Magic Roundabout Nursery Kennington

A monthly artist study, treasure baskets for babies and cooking indoors and outside give Magic Roundabout Nursery Kennington a recognisable character. Its Grade II listed Victorian house provides the setting; practical exploration supplies much of the activity. Art, food and the natural world recur across the day rather than sitting apart from children's learning.

At its December 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Outstanding overall and found exceptional developmental progress across the age groups. The detail behind that judgement matters: activities became more demanding as children developed, moving from sensory exploration towards measuring, making and explaining their ideas.

The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 105 places in total. Its weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 7pm. For parents, the appeal combines a substantial practical day with an emphasis on children doing things for themselves.

Rooms and Ages

In December 2024, the baby room emphasised sensory discovery and close relationships, the pre-toddler room developed early spoken phrases, the toddler room used descriptive conversation and questions, and the pre-school room encouraged children to explain how things happen through making and investigating. These were different stages of a learning sequence, with language running through them.

Babies also have treasure baskets and heuristic play among their activities. The baskets give object exploration a concrete place in the youngest children's offer, alongside the more elaborate making activities for older children.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. In practical terms, learning spans different areas of development, with play and hands-on activity giving children opportunities to practise language, movement and social skills.

An atelier supports a monthly introduction to a different artist. Clay, woodworking and cooking add other materials and processes to explore. This is an attractive combination for families who want creativity to involve handling, testing and making, as well as looking at finished pictures.

In December 2024, cooking tasks developed with children's capabilities: babies investigated utensils, older babies and pre-toddlers practised pouring and stirring, and older children worked with quantities and sequences. An everyday activity became a way to connect hand control, mathematical ideas and independence. The task changed as the child did.

Outdoor and Community Life

In December 2024, outdoor equipment included rock climbing stations, tricycles and balance bicycles, while a woodwork bench introduced real tools, including hammers. Physical exploration therefore extended beyond running around: children could practise balance and learn how to handle tools safely.

Outings that month connected food shopping with cooking through visits to a supermarket and local market. Gallery trips complemented the artist of the month study, while recycling and community visits brought environmental themes into practical experiences. These links gave children something concrete to draw on when talking about food, art and their surroundings.

In December 2024, stories helped children connect feelings with colours and put emotions into words. That gave emotional learning a practical method rather than relying only on reminders about behaviour. Staff also used knowledge of children's interests and next learning steps to shape activities around them.

Weekly multicultural events in December 2024 brought parents into storytelling in their own languages. Families could contribute something personal to the nursery day, and children encountered different languages through familiar adults and stories. Parent involvement had a place in learning itself.

At the December 2024 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities exceptionally strong, with external professionals involved and individual plans reviewed with parents. This is useful evidence for families seeking support that includes both professional input and parental involvement.

School preparation in December 2024 included workshops for parents about the move onwards. Staff coaching and supervision also supported the adults delivering the nursery day, with supervision used to identify their strengths and training needs.

The group-wide food arrangement used here includes an in-house chef preparing meals and snacks from scratch each day. Food preparation is therefore part of the nursery's daily operation, alongside children's own cooking activities.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. The broad window gives parents a useful starting point when assessing whether childcare can fit their working day.

Childcare enquiries and visit bookings have a Kennington option, and the branch can be contacted on 020 7277 3643. The enquiry route serves this nursery directly, rather than requiring families to choose another location.

Getting There

The address is 35 Sutherland House, Sutherland Square, London SE17 3EE. Kennington and Elephant & Castle stations are a short walk away, and the nursery has onsite parking and a buggy store.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is supported, subject to eligibility. Families should obtain a current written quotation from the nursery for prices; the cost decision belongs alongside the hours and learning offer, rather than being treated as an afterthought.

• A creative day to understand in practice. The offer includes clay, woodworking and a monthly artist study in the atelier. During the free 30-minute visit, ask how these experiences fit your child's stage and how settling is organised alongside them.
• Opening hours and the booking decision. The weekday window extends from 7.30am to 7pm. Ask which attendance pattern and funded-hours arrangement would fit your family, including the treatment of meals and non-food consumables.
• Individual support. The December 2024 findings described individual plans reviewed with parents and external professionals. For a child needing additional help, the useful discussion is how that process would work for their particular needs.

Magic Roundabout Nursery Kennington suits families who value practical creativity: babies explore objects, older children work with clay and tools, and cooking connects activity with everyday life. The monthly artist study gives the art offer a recurring thread, while the weekday opening window may help families balancing childcare with work.

The December 2024 Outstanding judgement adds weight to that appeal. This nursery merits consideration for its combination of purposeful making, emotional learning and parent participation, with the attendance and funding arrangement forming the practical decision alongside them.