Fountain Children Centre

A Victorian house, three age-group rooms and gardens used in all weathers give Fountain Children Centre its character. This Peckham nursery has 42 places in total and accepts children from four months to five years. Its rooms move from Sun Rise Room for babies through Moon Light Room for toddlers to Rainbow Room for preschool children, giving families a clear picture of the stages ahead.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children with SEND benefited from individual learning plans and links with outside professionals. The same visit identified work needed on extending learning, keeping children involved in group activities and sharing information with parents. Those points deserve attention alongside the grade.

Play, outdoor exploration and communication between home and nursery shape the offer. The building occupies two floors and is wheelchair accessible; the gardens add space for physical activity and preschool planting. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Rooms and Ages

Sun Rise Room, for children aged four to 18 months, provides space to practise sitting, crawling and walking, with songs, stories, sensory play and building activities supporting early exploration. Moon Light Room takes children from 18 months to three years, using a large space, natural materials and sensory equipment to encourage exploration suited to each child's development. Rainbow Room, for ages three to five, combines child-chosen play with books, singing, group time and sensory experiences, with independence an explicit emphasis.

These are different stages of nursery life rather than interchangeable rooms. The baby offer centres on early movement and close communication with home; toddlers have materials to investigate; preschool children have opportunities to make choices and take part in more organised learning. That progression gives parents something concrete to consider beyond the whole-setting place count.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for learning through play, including communication, physical development, relationships, early literacy and mathematics. Staff share observations through contact books and home observation forms, then discuss children's development in room meetings. Learning journey folders and leavers books provide further records of that development.

Southwark STAR is used alongside other assessment tools to monitor progress. It sits within the nursery's observation process, rather than constituting a separate daily activity. For parents, the useful connection is between what staff notice, what they plan next and what families can contribute from home.

In July 2024, play dough was used to exercise the hand movements needed for writing, while snack-time counting connected numbers with an everyday task. Mathematical language also appeared in play at the mud kitchen. These examples show how learning can fit into familiar experiences rather than depend entirely on a formal group session.

The teaching challenge was consistency. In July 2024, opportunities to take children's ideas further were sometimes missed, and group activities did not hold every child's attention. The distinction matters: planning activities is one task; adapting them so each child remains involved and sufficiently challenged is another.

Outdoor and Community Life

Gardens are part of the daily routine in different weather conditions, and preschool children plant seeds and look after them. That gives outdoor time both a physical purpose and an opportunity to follow change over time. The grounds also contain playground equipment for movement and exploration.

In July 2024, garden activities included climbing, jumping and running, while baking introduced children to preparing food. Outdoor movement and practical tasks therefore formed part of the nursery day at that visit, alongside indoor play.

Relationships and Communication

Settling starts before the usual attendance routine. Families are encouraged to allow at least two settling days before the start date, with the parent and key person deciding together when the child is ready to stay with staff. This leaves room for an individual response rather than assuming every child separates at the same pace.

A key person acts as the main contact for families. In Sun Rise Room, the daily contact book carries information about the child's day and allows parents to add details from evenings and weekends. For a baby moving between home and nursery, that exchange can help staff understand routines and recent experiences.

Communication also needs to be useful beyond a daily account. In July 2024, advice about supporting learning at home was inconsistent, and parent feedback was not gathered reliably enough. The current parent guidance includes sharing books, playing counting games and practising everyday independence, giving families practical activities to use at home.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Wheelchair access is a concrete feature of the building. The settling arrangements also give parents a role in explaining their child's needs before independent attendance begins. These mechanisms matter more than a broad promise that every child will settle quickly.

A chef prepares meals and snacks with children's dietary needs taken into account. Food education also includes a food-and-drink theme about healthy eating, connecting what children eat with what they learn.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is at 19 Bird in Bush Road, London, SE15 6RW. It opens from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays and operates across the year, closing on bank holidays and for one week at the end of August. The opening window is useful for planning work or study commitments; the annual closure also needs to fit the family's childcare calendar.

Families can enquire by telephone on 020 7639 2233 or email at info@thefcc.co.uk, and a tour-booking option is offered. Joining involves completing an enrolment form and paying a registration charge. An advance deposit is non-refundable but can be applied before the child leaves. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Funding and Paid Extras

Private childcare and funded early education are offered. The funded offer includes 15 and 30 hours free early education entitlement for children aged two and three to four, subject to eligibility. Funding should be considered separately from the registration charge and deposit when comparing the overall joining arrangements.

• Teaching beyond the activity. In July 2024, challenge and engagement during group time needed strengthening. On a visit, ask staff to show how they adapt an activity for children at different stages.
• A two-way picture of your child. Contact books and home observations provide routes for sharing information, but July 2024 brought concerns about home-learning advice and gathering feedback. Ask how those exchanges influence the next steps planned for your child.
• Settling and the joining bill. At least two settling days are encouraged, and joining carries a registration charge and a non-refundable deposit that can be used before leaving. How would funded hours fit your attendance needs, and how would meals and non-food consumables be handled within that arrangement?

Fountain Children Centre suits families looking for baby-to-preschool continuity, a play-based day and regular garden time in Peckham. The age-group rooms, baby contact book and parent involvement in settling give its offer useful substance. Its year-round operation may also suit parents returning to work or study who can plan around the August closure.

The July 2024 Good judgement is balanced by specific teaching and communication improvements. The strongest decision is therefore one grounded in how staff extend play, involve children in group activities and use information from home, alongside the practical appeal of the rooms and outdoor space.