Nursery at St Paul's Waldorf School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Wooden blocks, bread-making and daily outdoor play give St Paul's nursery its practical Waldorf character. Nursery children belong to a mixed-age Kindergarten spanning ages three to six, with four groups: Apple Tree, Chestnut Tree, Mulberry Bush and Rosebush. The school occupies a Grade II* listed building in Islington.
Continuity shapes the experience. Children remain with their Kindergarten teacher and group for three years, giving them familiar adults and companions as they grow. This is a provision for families drawn to learning through play, seasonal routines and useful everyday tasks.
Self-directed play takes up several hours of the day. Natural objects and wooden blocks leave children room to decide what their toys become, while puppet theatre, fairy tales and seasonal rhymes bring language into imaginative activity. Counting games and movement with rhythm introduce early mathematical ideas through doing.
The Steiner Waldorf approach sits alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the framework for early learning and development. In May 2023, Kindergarten followed EYFS up to age five with agreed Department of Education exemptions. Formal learning begins at six, turning seven, so families should expect an emphasis on preparation for literacy and numeracy during these early years.
Practical work supplies plenty of that preparation. Children bake bread, garden, sew and paint, alongside cleaning, vegetable preparation and woodwork. These activities give small hands purposeful jobs and make contributing to the group part of learning. Outdoors is a daily experience in every kind of weather, with a nature walk each week.
Seasonal celebrations add another layer. At Michaelmas, Kindergarten families join in apple juicing, wool washing and food preparation. For Martinmas, children make lanterns and younger children take an evening lantern walk with parents and teachers. These are shared activities that connect the nursery year with changes in the seasons.
A hot meal cooked at school is shared by children and teachers. Food therefore belongs to the communal day, alongside the practical work children do themselves. Orchard Club adds a rest period, craft activity, play and a snack for those staying longer.
The Kindergarten teacher is the first contact for questions about a child's experience. Additional needs support includes an Early Childhood SENDCO; where targeted help is needed in Kindergarten, the teacher and SENDCO prepare a short-term plan together and share it with the family. Starting Points assessments, a five-year-old check and autumn and spring assessments help track development. Support remains subject to the school's ability to balance the needs of children and staff.
An early years deputy safeguarding lead provides a specific contact within the wider safeguarding team. The May 2023 ISI compliance inspection found that the relevant EYFS requirements were met. This was a compliance check, rather than a nursery quality grade.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. For a Reception place elsewhere, families must make a separate application through the usual admissions route by the applicable deadline.
Within St Paul's, the first Kindergarten year is called Star and corresponds to Nursery; Moon, the second year, corresponds to Reception. Children remain in their familiar Kindergarten group with the same teacher. That continuity describes the educational arrangement, rather than a guarantee about admission.
Kindergarten runs on weekdays from 08:15 to 13:15. Orchard Group extends care to 15:30, Monday to Friday. It is booked and paid for separately, a term ahead, with between one and five sessions each week. Kindergarten after-school care runs until 17:30 on Mondays and Thursdays; bookings go to absence@stpaulswaldorfschool.org.
Children aged three and four are eligible for the Nursery Education Grant. St Paul's can provide a maximum of 15 funded hours, and lunch club cannot use funded hours. Current charges should be obtained from the school.
Parents begin with an adult-only tour, except for babies in arms. Booking and enquiries go to admissions@stpaulswaldorfschool.org; an enquiry form is also available. The school is at 1 St Paul's Road, London N1 2QH.
The mixed-age groups cover three to six years. The first year, Star, corresponds to Nursery.
The regular day ends at 13:15. Orchard Group extends it to 15:30 on weekdays, with Kindergarten after-school care until 17:30 on Mondays and Thursdays.
Yes. Children and teachers share a hot, homemade meal prepared by the school cook. Orchard Club also includes a snack.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Applications to Reception elsewhere must follow the usual admissions route and deadline.
Email admissions@stpaulswaldorfschool.org or use the tour booking link. Tours are for adults, with babies in arms permitted.
