The Gower School Nursery Review

Pouring a drink, choosing a task and preparing a snack are part of the learning here. Montessori shapes The Gower School nursery’s day, with practical independence running through baby care, toddler play and the older children’s work cycles.

The nursery is at 18 North Road in Islington, separate from the primary site. Provision starts with babies from three months; Les Papillons caters for children aged three to five and has around 30 children. These are different stages of nursery life, rather than a single classroom experience.

In Les Nounours, discovery begins with everyday objects in treasure baskets and heuristic play, which lets babies investigate materials through their senses. A miniature staircase gives crawling and early walking their own practice space. The baby playroom opens directly onto a dedicated garden deck, while wagon outings and park trips take exploration further.

For toddlers, the surroundings invite choice. Les Petits Lapins has garden access straight from its room, with outdoor play twice daily. Its home corner includes cooking props and dressing-up clothes; storytelling, messy play and song sessions sit alongside learning to manage shoes, coats and clearing away dishes. Everyday care becomes something children can join in with.

Older toddlers in Les Écureuils spend mornings in a Montessori Work Cycle: staff watch their choices and introduce materials in response to their interests. Pouring exercises, floor mats and early number materials give abstract learning a physical form. The Early Years Foundation Stage guides their developmental activities, covering learning through language, numbers and exploring the world alongside practical skills. French, yoga and music bring a different rhythm to afternoons, with free play and messy activities too.

In Les Papillons, children receive individual introductions to materials and then choose work they can use independently. Longer, uninterrupted work cycles allow time to concentrate. Forest School takes nursery children aged two and above to weekly outdoor learning, with Caledonian Park a short walk away: sticks, conkers and woodland exploration extend learning beyond the classroom.

A Key Person handles familiar daily routines, including meals, toileting and comfort. Babies also have a co-Key Person to cover absence, and their eating and sleeping patterns follow established home routines. Les Nounours has a quiet room for feeding, sleep and individual attention, so rest has a separate space from the main playroom.

Settling begins with a visit to the child’s new group, followed by a home visit and arranged settling sessions. Families share medical, dietary and care information before starting. In Les Écureuils, daily conversations at collection and weekly My Montessori Child updates connect home with nursery learning; annual reports and individual meetings provide fuller discussions.

Home-cooked meals, organic milk and washable nappies are provided, while families supply babies’ formula. The staff team includes Montessori teachers and early years practitioners, with qualifications including Montessori diplomas, NNEB and NVQ III. Nursery SEND coordination sits within a process of assessing needs, planning support and reviewing it with parents. Specialist individual therapy can carry an additional charge, making the agreed support package a practical consideration for families.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families already attending must complete a separate primary registration through the school’s online application system. Entry involves an October group assessment before the intended start year, with shortlisted children usually returning for individual assessment in January. This requires a fresh decision and application, rather than an automatic move.

Transition activities are separate from selection. Children visit during the preceding term and are invited to a class picnic; parents attend a welcome meeting. Those experiences help introduce the next stage once a place has been arranged.

Full days run from 8am to 6pm. Children aged 18 months to three years can attend short mornings from 9am to 12:30pm, longer mornings ending at 2:15pm, or afternoons from 2:15pm to 5pm. Les Papillons also has a five-day core option from 9am to 4pm and requires at least six sessions weekly from the term after the third birthday. Its children wear a simple uniform.

Funding is stretched across 48 opening weeks: eligible families’ annual entitlement becomes 23.75 hours weekly. Fully funded places run from 12:15pm to 5pm; meals, consumables and additional activities form optional extras, and children who decline the programme do not join its additional activities. Universal funding starts the term after the third birthday. Ask the school for current charges.

Closures include a week each at Christmas and Easter, two weeks in August and five annual training days. For enquiries or a tour, contact nurseryadmissions@thegowerschool.co.uk or 0207 700 2445. Nursery tours last approximately 30 minutes.