Play Studio Montessori Nurseries

Pouring, sorting and tidying are part of the education at Play Studio Montessori Nurseries, rather than tasks saved for adults. This Chadwell St Mary setting takes a Montessori approach: children choose purposeful activities, work with their hands and progress at their own pace. Its identity is practical and child-led, with independence running through both learning and everyday routines.

At its July 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and recognised effective support for children with SEND, while identifying improvements needed in learning challenge and sleep organisation. A later safeguarding regulatory visit matters alongside that judgement and is covered below.

The nursery accepts children from three months to five years and has 25 places in total. Nido and Children’s House provide its two age-based communities, within a setting that includes a garden, sensory and quiet rooms, and separate areas for babies and toddlers.

Rooms and Ages

Nido serves children from three months to 2.5 years, while Children’s House takes those aged 2.5 to five years. These communities give families a clear picture of the nursery’s age structure, from early infancy through the preschool years.

The physical setting includes wheelchair access as well as sensory and quiet rooms. Separate baby and toddler areas distinguish the younger children’s spaces; the garden adds an outdoor setting for movement and play. Those are useful features for families weighing the building as well as the educational approach.

Learning and Activities

EYFS provides the framework for children’s learning, development and care, covering their communication, physical development and other areas of learning. Montessori adds the nursery’s particular approach: hands-on activity, choices guided by children’s interests and respect for individual pace. The two work alongside each other.

Practical Life gives everyday tasks an educational purpose. Pouring, sweeping, sorting and matching create opportunities to practise handling materials and completing something independently. Language and Mathematics sit alongside Sensorial work and Cultural Studies in the curriculum. Materials are arranged to support sensory exploration, early reading and number work, with adults observing and helping when needed. Families can explore the approach through the child-led learning page.

In July 2024, children’s activities included ballet, movement with music and mark making. Fruit preparation involved supervised use of tools, bringing hand control into an ordinary snack routine. Language activities connected new vocabulary with objects and pictures: children looked at x-rays and used cotton buds to create skeletons. These examples show how practical experiences and conversation were brought together.

Outdoor and Community Life

In July 2024, garden play gave younger children opportunities to practise moving confidently, while older children balanced and jumped using obstacles of different sizes. Outdoor activity therefore had a clear physical purpose.

Independence continues beyond the curriculum. In July 2024, babies practised eating with a spoon, while older children helped organise mealtimes, served food and managed their drinks. These mealtime tasks gave children further practice in doing things themselves.

Meals in July 2024 were nutritious, and staff took account of children’s allergies and dietary needs when serving food. This is a dated observation about care, rather than a current allergy-policy promise.

Daily communication was also part of the July 2024 routines. Parents received updates about activities and children’s next learning steps, giving them something concrete to continue at home. The current child-led approach encourages families to share their knowledge of their child, so communication has a role beyond passing on a daily account.

Sleep needs closer attention. In July 2024, children recognised the after-lunch rest routine, but play by children who stayed awake distracted some of those trying to sleep. The issue was the organisation of rest alongside activity. It matters directly to families whose child still needs a daytime nap.

Following a regulatory visit on 4 February 2026, Ofsted required prompt reporting of welfare concerns to safeguarding agencies and clearer understanding of safeguarding thresholds among those in lead roles; its outcome dated 14 April 2026 records that the response on 25 March 2026 demonstrated stronger understanding and application of those thresholds. This later finding belongs alongside the earlier inspection judgement when families assess safeguarding practice.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 9E Rigby Gardens, Chadwell St Mary, RM16 4JJ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates throughout the year, closing for bank holidays and one week between Christmas and New Year.

An All Day Session is offered through the enquiry form, with weekdays selectable. Families can submit their expected start date and contact details through that form, and tour booking is offered too. The all-year calendar is a useful practical distinction for parents arranging childcare beyond school terms.

Getting There

Onsite parking and wheelchair access are part of the premises. These give families practical features to weigh alongside the indoor spaces and garden.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered. Families should obtain a current written quotation from the nursery before committing to paid care, so their decision rests on the terms for their own arrangement.

• Safeguarding follow-up. The February 2026 visit led to actions concerning welfare reporting and safeguarding thresholds; the March 2026 response demonstrated stronger understanding and application of thresholds. Ask how those procedures now operate in daily practice.
• Challenge for confident learners. In July 2024, staff sometimes missed opportunities to extend learning for the most able children. On a tour, ask for an example of how an activity is developed when a child masters it quickly.
• Daytime sleep. In July 2024, awake children’s play interrupted some children’s settling. Families with a child who naps should ask how rest and active play are now organised.
• Funded attendance costs. Funded childcare is offered. Before agreeing an arrangement, ask which entitlement and attendance pattern apply, and how meals, consumables and any additional hours are treated.

Play Studio suits families seeking Montessori learning through practical tasks and child-directed activity, with an all-day booking option and an all-year calendar. Nido and Children’s House give the approach an age-based structure, while the garden and quiet spaces broaden the physical setting.

The July 2024 Good judgement provides a useful quality benchmark, but the later safeguarding actions deserve direct attention. Learning challenge, sleep organisation and the handling of safeguarding concerns are the concrete points to resolve alongside the appeal of the educational approach.