House of Commons Nursery & Pre-School

Children helping to choose lunch gives this parliamentary nursery a character beyond its address. In February 2022, older children helped babies express their preferences, and children contributed ideas for activities as well as meals. Everyday decisions became opportunities to listen, choose and consider someone else.

At its 23 February 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated House of Commons Nursery & Pre-School Outstanding and praised the planning of learning and staff’s detailed understanding of children’s development. That judgement belongs to that visit. The strongest examples were practical: sensory exploration for babies, animated storytelling for older children and independence built into lunch.

The nursery has 40 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. Access is restricted to families whose parent or carer holds a permanent parliamentary pass, making eligibility a decisive consideration before families weigh the educational offer.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday routines support their growing skills. In February 2022, babies investigated water and edible sand, with materials positioned at different heights to encourage reaching and exploration. The physical arrangement supported movement as well as curiosity.

Older children took part in storytelling that invited their involvement rather than leaving them simply listening. In February 2022, staff used signing alongside speech, and children also used computers to investigate questions. These examples give a concrete picture of language running through activities, with different ways for children to take part.

Children’s choices extended beyond selecting a toy. During February 2022, they contributed to planning discussions and helped shape the lunch menu. Older children supported younger ones in making decisions. For parents who value children having a say, this is a more useful example than a broad statement about child-led learning: their opinions influenced something they would actually do or eat.

Outdoor and Community Life

Daily exploration of the surrounding area was part of life in February 2022. Park outings included dinosaur hunts, with children remaining within staff’s sight and hearing. Road-crossing routines used a playful call to the pedestrian signal, while children repeated the outing rules at the park. Outdoor activity therefore combined movement and imaginative play with practice in following shared boundaries.

Relationships and Communication

In February 2022, communication connected nursery experiences with home through daily exchanges, termly parent meetings and stay-and-play opportunities. Staff collected familiar words from families whose children spoke another language at home, then used those words with the children. This gave parents a practical contribution to their child’s day rather than limiting partnership to progress updates.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised the prompt support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including signing to help children communicate. The safeguarding assessment included recruitment procedures, renewed training and risk assessments for nursery activities and outings.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Independence started with small tasks in February 2022: babies learning to eat held a spoon, younger children managed their bibs, and older children prepared tables. Toddlers and preschool children served lunch themselves. These were useful steps towards managing ordinary routines, with adults discussing vegetables and healthy choices during meals.

Health routines were equally practical. In February 2022, children rested after physical activity, staff supported handwashing, and younger children received help with nose wiping. Coughing and sneezing were used as opportunities to practise hygiene. The account describes care woven into the day, rather than a separate lesson about keeping healthy.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays, between Christmas and New Year, and for two staff-training days annually. Those closures matter when planning childcare around work commitments.

Getting There

The address is House of Commons, Refreshment Department, 1 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2NE. The permanent parliamentary pass requirement narrows the families this setting can serve; proximity alone does not establish eligibility.

Funding and Paid Extras

In February 2022, the nursery received early education funding for children aged three and four. House of Commons families have separate terms and conditions, supplied on request. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation, so the branch’s own agreement is the relevant basis for assessing the financial commitment.

• Parliamentary access. A parent or carer must hold a permanent parliamentary pass. Establish that your family meets this condition before arranging a visit.
• Your child’s daily care. The February 2022 examples include baby sensory play and increasing independence at meals. On a visit, ask how settling, rest and communication would work for your child now.
• The branch agreement. House of Commons uses separate terms and conditions. Ask for a written explanation of your attendance pattern, funding, meal and consumable arrangements, and cancellation terms before accepting an offer.

For eligible parliamentary families, this is a nursery worth considering for its February 2022 account of thoughtful learning and practical independence. Children’s involvement in planning and lunch choices gives that account real substance, while everyday language work and parent communication add useful detail. The weekday opening window supports families organising care around parliamentary work; the separate branch agreement is central to deciding whether the arrangement fits your household.