Puddleduck Nursery

An open-plan community hall and a garden for growing, climbing and riding give Puddleduck Nursery its character. Based in Nunhead, it combines a Froebelian approach, centred on play and connections with nature, with practical experiences such as gardening and cooking.

Children aged 3 to 60 months can attend. No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet.

EYFS provides the required areas of learning: stories, conversation, movement, creative play and practical counting form part of the day. The Froebelian approach sits alongside this framework, connecting learning with children's experiences and the natural world.

In the Baby Room, stories and garden activities sit alongside milk and naps; some babies also sleep during both morning and afternoon. The toddler and preschool routine includes a choice of rest or outdoor activity after lunch. A quiet area in the hall provides space for sleeping and stories.

Forest School, a programme of child-led outdoor exploration, uses the nursery's Forest School Garden. Elsewhere outdoors, children can ride balance bikes, use a climbing frame and grow herbs, beans and strawberries. These give movement and plant care a practical place in the day.

Lucy Sparkles Music Class brings instrument playing, singing and movement together, using live music and percussion. Football takes place on Tuesdays. Children also pick garden produce for the chef, linking what they grow with what they eat.

A key person works with parents on children's starting points and subsequent development. Famly App provides photographs, videos and messages, giving families a way to follow the day and share information with staff.

The behaviour policy separates an unacceptable action from the child, uses redirection and involves parents when difficulties arise. Individual behaviour plans follow observations and discussions with families where behaviour involves aggression towards other children or staff. Practitioners receive Froebelian training, while staff recruitment arrangements include references and DBS checks.

A chef cooks fresh food on site, with a seasonal rotating menu displayed weekly; staff join children at meals. The nursery has a nut-free policy and offers dietary adaptations.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is St Antony With St Silas Community Centre, Merttins Road, London, SE15 3EB. Full-day sessions run from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with an extended option from 7.30am to 6pm at an additional charge. The usual minimum is three days weekly; funded-only places have flexibility.

The nursery operates for 50 weeks, closing for public and bank holidays, two Christmas weeks and four annual inset days. Buggies, scooters and bikes can be stored, and Nunhead, Brockley and Crofton Park railway stations are within walking distance.

Funding and Paid Extras

Universal 15-hour funding for three- and four-year-olds starts in the term after their third birthday; eligible working-family 30-hour funding covers children aged nine months to four years. Funding is also offered to some two-year-olds. Funding is stretched across the year; additional attendance hours are charged separately.

Meals and snacks are included in private fees. On funded days, meal charges are voluntary and parents can supply packed meals; parents supply creams, wipes and nappies. Classes are included in private fees but optional on funded-only days, and extra outings may carry separate charges. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Shared indoor space. The main hall is open plan. On a visit, ask how babies' rest and older children's active play work alongside each other; bring photo ID.
• Start-date commitment. Start dates cannot be deferred. Deposits and registration or settling payments are non-refundable if the child does not start; deposits are refundable on departure after at least 12 months' attendance.
• Allergy arrangements. A nut-free policy and dietary adaptations are offered. Families managing allergies should confirm current preparation and serving practices.

Puddleduck suits families interested in nature, music and practical play, with both full days and earlier-start extended days. The shared hall, garden activities and communication through Famly are concrete reasons to consider it, alongside its booking commitment and funded-day extras.