Fulham Prep School Nursery Review

Child-led play, teacher-guided learning and a place to rest shape the nursery at Palace Gardens. Fulham Prep School's provision now welcomes children aged 1 to 4, following the September 2026 introduction of a class for one-year-olds and an extension to 48 weeks. That gives families a longer annual childcare pattern alongside the nursery's school setting.

The nursery occupies Palace Gardens at 47A Fulham High Street, alongside the school's younger classes. Its purpose-built environment includes classrooms, outdoor play spaces and rest areas. There were 16 nursery children in February 2024; that is a historical roll, rather than a measure of today's capacity.

Exploration shares the timetable with adult-guided sessions. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the learning framework, with Inspired's Early Learning approach alongside it. In practical terms, children learn through play as well as planned teaching, with the balance adjusted to the activity's purpose. Pair work, small-group tasks and art projects give them opportunities to exchange ideas and practise working together.

Classroom learning is balanced with outdoor exploration, meals and naps. Rest areas give quieter routines their own space within the environment. The nursery aims to help children use new skills in different situations, rather than treating each activity as an isolated task.

In February 2024, ISI found that early-years children developed independence through choosing activities and managing routines such as registering themselves. Nursery teaching also connected learning with everyday uses, helping children understand the purpose of a new skill. These are useful foundations for taking responsibility in a classroom. Separately, the February 2024 inspection recommended further work on the new behaviour policy so that pupils of every age understood it fully.

Language support has concrete classroom tools. A visual timetable and pictures for new vocabulary help children learning English follow what happens next. Home-language storybooks and songs in other languages also make room for children's existing knowledge, while children can share words from their home language with classmates.

Care routines extend beyond the learning timetable. Staff work with families on weaning, toilet training and sleep patterns, so developmental milestones are part of the nursery's daily work. Meals are cooked on site with fresh ingredients, and children receive snacks as well as meals during the day. Parents should tell their child's teacher about allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements; the nursery makes efforts to accommodate them.

Early-years children with special educational needs and disabilities made substantial progress in February 2024, supported by cooperation between staff, parents and external agencies. Children learning English also progressed quickly through teaching adapted to their needs. Regular assessment helped staff decide when to intervene and what to teach next.

Support remains conditional on the school having suitable resources and being able to meet a child's needs. Families must disclose known or suspected needs before an offer; specialist individual tuition can carry an additional charge. The safeguarding team includes an EYFS deputy lead, giving the youngest children representation within the school's safeguarding structure.

Existing nursery children are expected to progress to Reception automatically, subject to the required behaviour and progress standards and the school's continued ability to meet their needs. This is conditional progression, rather than an unconditional guarantee. Existing pupils moving through the school are exempt from the application procedures that apply to external candidates.

For families joining directly at Reception, registration is through the school, with a deadline of 31 October in the year before September entry. That external application timetable should be distinguished from progression for a child already attending the nursery.

Full-day, morning and afternoon bookings run from 08:00 to 18:00, 08:00 to 13:00 and 13:00 to 18:00 respectively, Monday to Friday. A minimum of three sessions applies to the 48-week arrangement. Agree the chosen attendance pattern with Admissions before booking.

The 15-hour universal entitlement applies to three- and four-year-olds; the 30-hour working-parent entitlement depends on eligibility. Annual allocations of 570 or 1,140 hours are stretched to 11.88 or 23.75 hours per week across the operating year. Ask Admissions to confirm the funded arrangement applicable to your child. Meals, trips and enrichment sit outside funded hours as optional charged extras. Families can opt out by contacting Admissions before term begins, with specific alternative booking patterns applying. Ask the school for current charges.

Uniform is compulsory from Nursery, with a list supplied on admission. Enquiries go to Admissions via the enquiry form or admissions@fulhamprep.co.uk. Nursery tours at Palace Gardens take place on Thursdays at 9.15am or 11.00am.