Les Petites Etoiles Bilingual Montessori, Paddington

Montessori materials, conversation in different languages and learning beyond the classroom give this Paddington nursery its character. In March 2023, children explored letters through tactile materials, practised everyday tasks for themselves and watched living things change. These are concrete examples of an approach built around doing, observing and becoming more independent.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good on 9 March 2023. The setting now has capacity for 47 children aged 10 to 48 months at 170 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6HS. That whole-setting figure is useful for understanding its scale; it is not the size of an individual group.

For parents, the main distinction is between its Montessori and multilingual identity and the separate English-only funded option. The financial terms deserve close attention alongside the educational approach: paid attendance involves a whole-term commitment, and monthly fees for the paid programme continue during holiday closures.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, education and care belong together: conversation, movement, play and growing independence all contribute to a child's development. In March 2023, Montessori methods added practical materials and opportunities for children to choose and complete activities alongside that framework.

In March 2023, the curriculum combined children's interests with Montessori methods. Toddlers used practical-life and sensory materials, while preschool children explored writing and letter shapes with sandpaper letters. Choosing an activity and putting it away afterwards also formed part of the day. Independence had a practical expression, rather than being merely an educational slogan.

Language learning was woven into ordinary interaction in March 2023. The bilingual programme involved French, English and Mandarin; staff used English or French while playing and singing with children. Babies joined songs, and adults continued talking with them during changing. For parents interested in multilingual care, those examples show how language entered routine experiences as well as planned activities.

Outdoor and Community Life

Physical activity took different forms in March 2023. Equipment gave babies opportunities to practise climbing and walking. Threading and cutting helped toddlers exercise their hands, while park visits gave older children space to balance, climb and move around others. Indoor materials and outdoor experiences served different purposes within the same day.

Daily outings to local parks also brought seasonal changes into children's learning in March 2023. Indoors, children watched chicks hatch and caterpillars develop into butterflies. These experiences made change something children could observe directly, connecting the natural world with classroom discussion.

Relationships and Communication

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children's needs were met effectively, safeguarding arrangements were effective and liaison with outside agencies supported children with additional needs. Those are dated findings, rather than assurances about present-day practice.

Communication with families had several strands in March 2023: meetings, written reports twice a year and app updates about learning and next steps. Parents also received support around toilet training and attachment difficulties. An informal home visit helped families meet staff before starting, giving the settling process a connection with the child's life outside nursery.

Everyday care also provided opportunities to practise independence in March 2023. Toddlers received help to use cutlery and pour drinks; preschool children took responsibility for clearing their bowls and plates. The progression matters because the demands changed with children's development, rather than treating independence as a single task for every age.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In March 2023, staff sought advice from external agencies for children needing additional support. Staff development included observing colleagues, training directed towards individual needs and supervision meetings. This describes the mechanisms used at that time, rather than promising that any particular support package will suit an individual child.

The same month's practice included discreet information about dietary requirements and reminders about road safety during park outings. Care extended into activities beyond the premises. Children were helped to understand the risks involved in their surroundings, as well as being supervised by adults.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Families can book paid attendance on two, three, four or five days a week, with a commitment covering a whole term. The distinction matters: a weekly day pattern and an opening window describe different parts of the arrangement.

Closures include bank holidays, two weeks at Christmas, one week at Easter and two weeks in August. Families needing continuous childcare should build those breaks into their plans. Monthly fees for the paid programme remain payable throughout the year, including the August and December closures.

Funding and Paid Extras

The Bilingual+ option is the named fee programme for this branch. Its charges for children aged three and over incorporate the 15 hours’ entitlement, and the nursery also participates in Early Education Funding for working families with children aged nine months to four years. Eligibility and the particular programme chosen affect how the funding is applied.

A separate English-only option offers 15 or 30 funded hours for eligible children over nine months, subject to availability. Meals are charged separately on that option; joining and waiting-list fees do not apply to it. The distinction is important for families comparing funded childcare with the multilingual fee programme: the funding and meal arrangements need to be considered together.

For the paid programme, a one-off joining charge is due when a place is accepted. Payment can be made by term before it begins or through monthly direct-debit instalments. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation; the Paddington fees page explains the charge structure.

Getting There

The nursery occupies the lower ground floor at 170 Gloucester Terrace, London W2 6HS. That floor position is a useful practical detail for families considering access with a young child.

• Play between children. In March 2023, the improvement priority was giving children more opportunities to play together independently and work through disagreements. During a visit, ask how staff now support shared play and conflict resolution.
• Term commitment and holiday cover. Paid attendance requires a whole-term commitment, and monthly fees for the paid programme continue through closures. Match the Christmas, Easter and August breaks to your family's childcare needs before accepting a place.
• English-only funded care. This option has separate meal charges and no joining or waiting-list charge. Compare its language offer and funding terms with Bilingual+ when deciding which arrangement fits your priorities.
• Lower-ground-floor access. The Gloucester Terrace premises are below ground level. At a visit, ask how access works with your child's pushchair or any mobility needs.

Paddington suits families attracted to Montessori learning and a multilingual nursery identity, whether they need attendance on two days or across five days each week. Its March 2023 examples give that identity substance: tactile letter work, everyday independence and direct observation of nature.

The English-only funded option offers a different route for families whose priority is funded childcare. Choosing between the programmes, allowing for holiday closures and understanding the paid programme's term commitment are central to the decision. The dated concern about independent peer play also deserves a specific conversation during a visit.