Phileas Fox Nursery School

French, Mandarin or Russian runs alongside English throughout the day at Phileas Fox Nursery School. Equal time in English and a chosen second language gives this Little Venice setting a clear purpose: language learning through conversation, stories and play, rather than a separate lesson added to an otherwise English-speaking day. Spacious classrooms and a large garden give children room to explore indoors and outside.

At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found that staff supported language development well and judged safeguarding effective. The important qualification concerned group learning: quieter children sometimes lost out when more confident children dominated. That matters in a nursery where discussion and spoken language have such a prominent role.

At St Mary's Square, London W2 1SE, the nursery has capacity for 50 children aged 24 to 60 months. Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions sit alongside an After School Club, with attendance requirements increasing as children grow.

Rooms and Ages

The named classes are Tiny Cubs for children aged one to two, Cubs for two- to three-year-olds and Foxes for three- to four-year-olds.

For Cubs, the published staff-to-child ratio is 1:4 for children aged two to three. This describes staffing, rather than how large the class is.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the foundation: children develop communication, movement and social skills through play, alongside early reading, mathematics and creative work. Phileas Fox adds daily language immersion and elements of Montessori, including choosing activities, exploring independently and working at a child's own pace.

English and the selected second language receive equal time. Groups are organised around age and ability, and adults use both languages during child-led play as well as planned activities. Signs and labels reinforce the language children hear; music, art, games and books introduce cultural detail. For families seeking regular exposure to another language, the practical strength is repetition across different parts of the day.

Visiting specialists add further variety. Tatty Bumpkin brings yoga-inspired movement, while Sporty Minis London runs football, tennis and other physical activities in the garden. Technokids introduces tablets and computers as tools for exploration, and Little Dance Academy provides dance and movement to music. These are concrete additions to the curriculum, with weekly enrichment taking place during morning sessions and included in the fees.

Music also has a physical anchor: a piano accompanies songs and rhymes, with children using instruments, singing and dancing. The curriculum overview explains how language immersion fits into the wider day.

Outdoor and Community Life

A large garden supports daily outdoor learning and play. In September 2024, children used tyres for climbing and jumping, and moved around the garden on bikes and buggies. Outdoor time offered physical challenges as well as fresh air.

Celebrations connect the language offer with cultural life. The yearly highlights include a Summer Party, Christmas Nativity and Graduation Ceremony; Halloween and World Book Day involve dressing up. An annual charity event supports BBC Children in Need. These occasions give families shared milestones, while the graduation celebration marks the move beyond nursery.

Relationships and Communication

Each child has two key persons who build relationships and guide learning. Where a child's first language is one taught at the nursery, a native-speaking member of staff provides additional emotional support. Familiar language adds another point of connection during settling.

Settling is planned with families. Staff agree an individual approach, beginning with short separations and extending time away gradually; parents can telephone for updates during those early days.

Tapestry carries photographs, videos, observations and reports, supplemented by daily reports, email and meetings with parents. Families can follow activities visually and discuss learning directly with staff.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Positive reinforcement and redirection guide behaviour, with attention to the individual child's needs. Activities address feelings, social interaction and relationships with other children. Secure entry and controlled collection procedures are part of the practical safety arrangements; these are separate from the dated safeguarding judgement.

In September 2024, children made choices about fruit at snack time, and older children used the toilet, washed their hands and helped put resources away. Independence was practised in ordinary routines.

An external early-years caterer cooks fresh organic lunches each day and delivers them to the nursery, with snacks, milk and water also provided. Allergy arrangements include accommodating dietary needs and staff training in medication and emergency response.

Preparation for school includes making choices, taking responsibility and solving problems, alongside early literacy and numeracy. Staff also support parents through the transition. This is practical preparation for a new stage, rather than an admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The morning session runs from 8am to 1pm, the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm, and the full-day session from 8am to 4pm. After School Club extends the day from 4pm to either 5pm or 6pm. A morning therefore includes lunch, while later collection requires the club extension.

Attendance is structured by age. Children aged one to two have a minimum of three mornings a week; those aged two to three attend at least five mornings. For three- to four-year-olds, the minimum is five mornings plus two afternoons. Children booked for mornings may add afternoons.

The nursery operates on a termly basis, with separately charged holiday clubs during some holidays and half terms. It closes over Christmas and throughout August.

Applications involve a visit, an application form and a non-refundable registration charge, followed by a deposit to secure an offered place. Allocation takes account of sibling attendance, language and session preferences, time on the waiting list and length of stay. Enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Working Parents Entitlement is offered to eligible families. From age three, afternoon sessions are free through the Early Years Entitlement.

The morning fee includes breakfast, lunch and a snack, as well as the weekly enrichment activities. Holiday clubs carry an additional charge. Families should obtain a current written quotation covering their intended pattern, registration charge and deposit, so the payment structure is clear before committing.

Moving on to School

Staff guide families considering independent pre-preps, bilingual schools, local primaries or schools abroad. Previous destinations include Kensington Wade and L'ecole Bilingue, illustrating that children move on to different types of school. These are destinations, rather than a guaranteed route: families follow the receiving school's own admissions process or the local authority process, as appropriate.

• Starting age. Tiny Cubs is described for one- to two-year-olds, while the current whole-setting age range begins at 24 months. Establish the permitted starting age for your child before paying the registration charge.
• A quieter child's participation. In September 2024, confident children sometimes dominated group stories. During a visit, ask how staff now give quieter children time and support to contribute in both languages.
• Attendance and holiday cover. Minimum attendance rises to five mornings and two afternoons for three- to four-year-olds, and August and Christmas closures affect continuity. Discuss a timetable that fits your working week and holiday arrangements.
• The complete care quotation. Morning fees include food and weekly enrichment, while holiday clubs cost extra. Ask how meals and non-food consumables are treated on your funded and private hours, and discuss current allergy procedures where relevant.

Phileas Fox suits families who want daily French, Mandarin or Russian alongside English, with either a regular morning pattern or full days and later club collection. Its strongest practical combination is equal-time language immersion, a substantial garden and named visiting specialists. Two key persons and Tapestry provide a clear structure for relationships and communication.

The trade-offs are specific: attendance becomes more substantial with age, holiday care needs planning, and participation in group learning deserves attention for quieter children. Families comfortable with that structure have a nursery whose language offer is woven through play and everyday conversation, rather than confined to an occasional activity.