Micky Star Nursery & Pre-School

Coloured dough linked to a story about emotions, chalk marks and letter-sound hunts: Micky Star’s March 2023 learning examples put conversation and practical exploration centre stage. This Paddington nursery accepts children from birth to five and has 62 places in total.

At its March 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children making good progress, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. Two improvements mattered: more consistent communication between baby-room staff and better sharing of children’s next learning steps with parents.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings serve different family routines, with an all-year-round booking plan.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care. In parent terms, learning and everyday care belong together: conversation, play and growing independence contribute to the day alongside planned activities.

In March 2023, babies investigated coloured oats, transferring them between containers and using them in pretend cooking; toddlers mixed dough colours while discussing feelings; older children explored early writing and sounds with chalk and magnifying glasses. These were different activities for different stages, rather than one task applied across the nursery.

Staff joined children’s play and extended their thinking through interaction. The examples give parents a useful picture of how sensory exploration can lead into language and how playful searching can introduce literacy. They are a dated picture of practice.

Outdoor and Community Life

In March 2023, the garden offered tyres for balancing, bicycles and rockers. That made outdoor time an opportunity to practise movement and coordination, alongside indoor learning.

The loan a bike scheme also supported families’ physical activity and wellbeing at that time. Its practical value was that support extended beyond activities within the nursery itself.

Relationships and Communication

In March 2023, staff gathered information about children’s interests and routines before planning their learning, and babies received physical comfort and reassurance to help them settle. Knowing a child’s familiar routines gave staff a starting point for care as well as activities.

Parents received updates about routines and learning, but information about the next skills children were working towards did not reach them consistently after a recording change. This distinction matters: knowing what happened during the day is different from knowing how to continue learning at home.

Baby-room teamwork was the other concern in March 2023. Communication between adults was sometimes insufficient to keep care and learning flowing smoothly. For families with babies, continuity between practitioners deserves close attention.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In March 2023, the special educational needs coordinator worked with other professionals to arrange additional support and prepare children for their next stage. Language groups drew on local services, and additional funding extended attendance for disadvantaged children. These are concrete support mechanisms rather than a general promise of inclusion.

A nursery chef prepared meals and snacks in March 2023, while adults shared mealtime conversation with children. Tooth-cleaning after eating was also part of the routine, bringing oral hygiene into everyday care.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 58-61 St. Michaels Street, London W2 1QR. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

Full Days run from 8am to 6pm, Mornings from 8am to 1pm, and Afternoons from 1pm to 6pm. The all-year-round plan includes five mornings, five afternoons or full-day bookings across two to five days. Full-day plans require at least two consecutive days, including a Monday or Friday, so the choice of days affects whether the pattern fits a family’s week.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded and private childcare are offered. Funding options include Working Parent, Two Year Old Offer, Universal and Extended funding, subject to the relevant eligibility requirements. On all-year-round bookings, funded entitlement is stretched over 51 weeks: the 15-hour schemes provide 11 hours weekly and the 30-hour scheme provides 22.

The booking-plan fees include breakfast, snacks, lunch and tea, including the plans with funded hours. Private place offers carry a non-refundable registration charge and a deposit on acceptance; the deposit becomes a credit towards the final account. Cancellation at least six weeks before the agreed start qualifies for its return, while shorter notice does not. Current prices come in the nursery’s written quotation.

• Baby-room continuity. Communication between adults needed improvement in March 2023. During a visit, ask how practitioners now coordinate routines and handovers.
• Learning at home. Next learning steps were not consistently shared in March 2023. Ask to see how these reach parents today and how they translate into activities at home.
• Your weekly pattern. Full-day plans require consecutive days and a Monday or Friday. Compare that rule with the five-morning and five-afternoon plans before choosing attendance.

Micky Star suits families seeking an all-year-round pattern, whether consecutive full days or five mornings or afternoons. Its March 2023 examples show practical learning, outdoor movement and support involving other professionals. The strongest decision points remain baby-room coordination and the clarity of learning updates: both deserve specific answers before joining.