The Arches Nursery

Two railway arches give this Leytonstone nursery its name and its physical character. Inside that unusual setting, Montessori-inspired learning uses natural resources and practical experiences; a vegetable garden and recycling hub bring environmental ideas into children's daily surroundings. The emphasis is on discovery through doing.

At its October 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated The Arches Nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The strongest practical examples involved language, independence and helping young children manage their feelings. There was also a clear improvement priority: learning for older children needed more carefully ordered steps.

The nursery has capacity for 28 children aged one to five at Arches 314-315, Courtenay Road, London E11 3PY. Full-time and part-time attendance are catered for, with a minimum commitment of three days each week.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: play and everyday experiences support learning alongside physical and emotional development. Montessori Approach adds hands-on exploration here, using simple toys, natural resources and open-ended materials that children can investigate in different ways. It gives the approach a concrete expression beyond its name.

Planning starts with children's interests. Adults use conversation during play to extend learning, while helping children practise independence and social interaction. This makes the relationship between adult and child part of the learning process, rather than relying solely on organised activities.

In October 2024, language learning included pretend soup-making, with staff introducing words about colour, quantities and size. Stories took place outside as well as indoors, supported by signs, pictures and objects. Children could hear language, see its meaning and try it themselves.

Other October 2024 activities connected early mathematical ideas with familiar experiences. Toddlers explored numbers on railway timetables, while weather discussions led to experiments with ink and shaving foam. Babies accompanied rhymes with sensory bottles. These were different ways into learning for children at different stages.

Ofsted's October 2024 inspection identified that some adult-led activities stretched older children before the necessary earlier skills were secure, and asked for better sequencing of their learning. Ambition needed smaller steps. That distinction matters when considering how activities will develop as a child grows.

Outdoor and Community Life

A vegetable garden connects growing with food, while the recycling hub introduces children to reusing materials and handling waste thoughtfully. Natural and upcycled resources also influence the indoor environment. Sustainability has practical objects and processes attached to it.

In October 2024, outdoor experiences included nature walks, feeding ducks and garden obstacle courses. Children also explored planting, cooking and baking. The combination brought movement, food and the natural world into their learning, rather than treating outdoor time solely as a break from indoor activities.

Relationships and Communication

Individual interests shape the learning programme, with an emphasis on relationships and a gentle pace of development. For families, that means a child's preferences form part of planning rather than simply sitting alongside it.

In October 2024, staff gave families individual updates at handover and used an app to share children's development. Parents were also invited to join breakfast and story-reading. These offered different ways to understand nursery life: a conversation about the day, a longer view of learning and time spent participating with a child.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In October 2024, children used a calm corner to work through emotions with adult support. Staff encouraged discussion of feelings and used praise to reinforce helpful behaviour. Emotional regulation was practised within everyday interactions.

Independence also had practical form in October 2024. Younger children fed themselves and helped put toys away; older children washed their hands and assisted with meal-table tasks. Small responsibilities gave children opportunities to contribute and practise doing things for themselves.

Meals are freshly prepared and vegetarian, following a three-week menu rotation with seasonal changes twice yearly. The nursery asks families to disclose allergies or intolerances promptly so these can be accommodated.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 5.45pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year. Its attendance policy requires at least three days per week, so part-time attendance still involves a substantial weekly commitment.

Applications begin with an expression-of-interest form. Allocation follows application order, although a full-time application can take precedence over a part-time one; siblings already attending also receive priority in practice. These rules can affect the order in which applications are considered.

Getting There

The address is Arches 314-315, Courtenay Road, London E11 3PY. The nursery occupies two railway arches in Leytonstone, making the building itself a useful identifying feature.

• Age range. The current age range is one to five, while the admissions policy specifies twelve months to three years. Clarify how this applies to a child approaching their third birthday.
• Attendance commitment. Part-time attendance requires at least three days weekly, and full-time applications can receive priority. Consider whether that commitment fits your working pattern before applying.
• Learning as children grow. October 2024's improvement priority concerned activities progressing in manageable steps for older children. During a visit, ask how planning now builds on skills a child has already mastered.
• Funding and the total arrangement. Ask for a current written quotation covering funded entitlement, additional hours, meals and non-food consumables, with each item's treatment made clear.

The Arches suits families seeking full-time attendance or a part-time pattern of at least three days, with practical learning and nature woven into the environment. Its railway-arch home, natural materials and vegetable garden give that offer a recognisable character.

October 2024's examples show how language and independence were practised through ordinary tasks and imaginative play. The decision also needs to account for the older-child learning priority and the difference between the current age range and admissions policy. For younger children whose families value hands-on exploration, there is plenty of concrete substance to consider.