Newpark Montessori Nursery School

Pouring a drink, putting on shoes and clearing a plate were part of learning independence at Newpark Montessori Nursery School in August 2022. These small tasks gave children practical responsibilities alongside their play. This Wandsworth setting has capacity for 82 children aged 4 to 60 months.

At its August 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found that children made good progress and judged safeguarding effective. The strongest thread in the daily activities was learning by doing, from preparing food to caring for plants.

In August 2022, the nursery followed Montessori, with practical independence evident in children choosing activities and managing everyday tasks. It also had to follow the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care: here, play and daily routines supplied opportunities to practise language, movement and problem-solving.

During that month, younger children arranged flowers, handled tongs and explored a baby gym. Older children tackled puzzles and practised writing their names. The garden offered another kind of discovery: children planted and watered crops before harvesting and eating them, connecting food with how it grows.

Songs, action rhymes and shared books also featured in August 2022. Children requested familiar favourites and discussed illustrations with staff. Counting cups gave mathematics a practical purpose, while washing paint pots prompted observations about changing water colour.

In August 2022, children had a key person, and staff helped them put feelings into words. Where possible, a child learning English had a key person who could speak their home language; staff also collected familiar words to help communication. These were concrete ways to connect care with each child's experience.

That month, staff shared progress with parents and offered ideas for learning at home. Mealtimes also involved practising cutlery skills and clearing plates, making care routines opportunities for growing independence.

The address is 15 Ebner Street, London, SW18 1BT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas. These closures matter for families arranging consistent childcare through the working year.

• Conversation time. In August 2022, some staff asked questions too quickly for younger children to answer or introduce their own ideas. Ofsted asked for more space for children's contributions. On a visit, pay attention to how adults pause and listen.
• Attendance planning. Which booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your child's week?
• Christmas cover. The two-week Christmas closure creates a defined break in care. Families needing childcare through that period should plan around it.

Newpark suits families whose childcare needs fit its weekday opening window and who value the Montessori approach and practical independence documented in August 2022. The August 2022 picture combines hands-on exploration, a garden used for growing food and everyday tasks that children could manage themselves. Giving younger children more conversational space was the clear improvement priority.