St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School is a two-form state nursery serving North Kensington's diverse community, where children aged 3 to 5 benefit from a curriculum built around loving learning, independence, collaboration, and creativity. Located on Sirdar Road in the heart of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the school has been federated with Avondale Park Primary School since 2014, and in 2023 joined the wider Fox Federation alongside Ashburnham, Avonmore, Fox, and Park Walk schools. Ofsted inspectors rated the nursery Good overall in January 2024, with Outstanding grades for both behaviour and attitudes and personal development. Forest School provision forms an integral part of the learning experience, with children accessing both a purpose-built nursery building and extensive outdoor spaces. The nursery offers both part-time and full-time places, with wraparound care available through a Breakfast Club and Early Years Extended Club. Operating hours run from 9:15 to 15:15 Monday to Friday during term time. The school currently serves 43 pupils across its two forms.
St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School places four core principles at the heart of its early years provision: loving learning, independence, collaboration, and creativity. These values shape a curriculum designed to nurture young children's natural curiosity whilst building the social and emotional foundations necessary for successful transitions into primary education. The nursery serves a multi-ethnic community in North Kensington, reflecting the area's rich cultural diversity.
The school's recent history demonstrates a commitment to collaborative educational models. The 2014 federation with Avondale Park Primary School created a continuum of early years provision on the Sirdar Road site, allowing smoother transitions for families and shared expertise across the early years and primary phases. In 2023, this partnership expanded further when both schools joined the Fox Federation, bringing together six educational settings across West London under a single governing board and executive leadership team. Each school within the federation maintains its own head of school, budget, and distinct identity whilst benefiting from shared curriculum development, staff training, recruitment, and professional learning opportunities.
Parents and staff describe an atmosphere that balances structured learning with child-led exploration. The nursery's commitment to Forest School pedagogy extends beyond occasional outdoor sessions; it is woven into regular practice, offering children consistent opportunities to engage with natural materials, develop risk assessment skills, and build confidence through outdoor play in all weathers. The purpose-built facilities include large outdoor spaces specifically designed to support active, exploratory learning.
As a nursery school serving children aged 3 to 5, St Anne's & Avondale Park does not participate in statutory Key Stage assessments, so national ranking data and standardised test results are not applicable. Instead, the school focuses on delivering high-quality early years education aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, preparing children for their transition into Reception.
Ofsted's January 2024 inspection judged the quality of education as Good, noting the school's effective implementation of its ambitious curriculum. Inspectors awarded Outstanding grades for both behaviour and attitudes and personal development, highlighting the nursery's exceptional work in developing children's social skills, emotional regulation, and personal confidence. These findings reflect a setting where young learners feel safe, engaged, and motivated to explore new ideas.
The curriculum framework built around loving learning, independence, collaboration, and creativity translates into daily practice through carefully planned activities that balance adult-led teaching with child-initiated exploration. Forest School sessions provide regular opportunities for outdoor learning, complementing indoor provision that includes access to specialist spaces within the purpose-built nursery environment.
Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is available, with the nursery providing information about its SEND provision and Pupil Premium strategy through published documentation. Children with Statements of Special Educational Needs naming the school receive priority in the admissions process, demonstrating the nursery's commitment to inclusive education.
The nursery's federation with Avondale Park Primary School and membership in the Fox Federation enable staff to access extensive professional development opportunities. Fox Primary School serves as a centre of excellence for teacher training, delivering programmes for newly qualified teachers across Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham, as well as continuing professional development for teachers in both state and independent sectors. This expertise flows across the federation, supporting high-quality teaching practice at St Anne's.
The nursery provides both part-time and full-time education places, offering flexibility to families with different needs. Operating hours run from 9:15 to 15:15 Monday to Friday during term time, with wraparound care extending the day through a Breakfast Club and Early Years Extended Club. This provision supports working families whilst maintaining the early years focus on age-appropriate session lengths.
Facilities include a purpose-built nursery building with large outdoor spaces designed specifically for early years learning. The outdoor environment supports the Forest School curriculum, allowing children regular access to natural materials, growing areas, and space for physical play and exploration. The co-location with Avondale Park Primary School on the Sirdar Road site means families can access continuous provision from nursery through primary education in one location.
The nursery's small size, with 43 pupils across two forms, creates an intimate environment where staff know each child well. This scale allows for personalised attention and careful observation of each child's developmental progress, ensuring that individual needs and interests shape the learning experience.
While specific information about clubs, trips, or enrichment programmes was not available in public sources, the federation structure suggests opportunities for shared experiences across the six settings, potentially including joint events, specialist teaching input, and access to resources across the partnership schools.
St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School operates its own admissions process for nursery places, distinct from the local authority's coordinated primary school admissions. Parents can register children on the application list from age 2 by completing an application form available from the school. The nursery welcomes prospective families to arrange visits and discuss the school's practices before applying.
Places typically begin in September, though admissions may occur at other times during the year if vacancies arise. The school does not accept children under the age of 3 and maintains a policy of not offering places for less than two terms except in special circumstances.
When applications exceed available places, the school applies oversubscription criteria in the following order: first, children in local authority care or with Statements of Special Educational Needs naming the school; second, consideration of age and gender balance within classes; third, educational, medical, and social needs; and fourth, proximity to the school measured by the shortest reasonable walking route from home. Priority is given to applicants whose parents are residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, or who live in local authority areas that have agreed to fund places with the Royal Borough.
The nursery is described as very popular and well-subscribed, reflecting high demand for quality early years provision in North Kensington. Without published data on application-to-offer ratios or furthest distances offered, families interested in securing places should apply early and consider the proximity criterion when assessing their chances of admission.
The school's location in North Kensington serves a diverse, multi-ethnic community. Families should contact the school directly to arrange a visit and discuss the application process, ensuring they understand current availability and admission prospects for their preferred entry point.
St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School offers high-quality early years education rooted in a clear values framework of loving learning, independence, collaboration, and creativity. The January 2024 Ofsted inspection confirms what families in North Kensington already know: this is a nursery where children's behaviour, attitudes, and personal development flourish to an exceptional degree, supported by good-quality teaching and a thoughtfully designed curriculum.
The school's federation partnerships strengthen its provision considerably. The 2014 link with Avondale Park Primary School creates continuity for families, whilst the 2023 expansion into the Fox Federation connects St Anne's with a network of outstanding schools and extensive professional development resources. This collaborative model ensures staff benefit from shared expertise whilst each school retains its distinct character and community focus.
Forest School provision integrated into regular practice distinguishes St Anne's from nurseries offering only occasional outdoor sessions. The purpose-built facilities and large outdoor spaces support this approach effectively, giving young children consistent opportunities to develop confidence, risk assessment skills, and appreciation for the natural world. The wraparound care through Breakfast Club and Extended Club adds practical value for working families without compromising the early years educational focus.
For families living in or near North Kensington, St Anne's represents an excellent choice for early years education, particularly those prioritising outdoor learning, small class sizes, and strong personal development outcomes. The small roll of 43 pupils ensures intimate, personalised attention. Proximity to the school matters significantly in the admissions process, so local families have a clear advantage.
The nursery's commitment to serving a multi-ethnic community and supporting children with SEND creates an inclusive environment where diversity is valued. Parents seeking a nurturing, child-centred start to their children's educational journey will find much to appreciate in St Anne's approach, where Outstanding personal development outcomes reflect genuine attention to the whole child.
If you value a warm, community-focused nursery that combines structured learning with outdoor exploration and benefits from federation links to some of West London's highest-performing schools, St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School merits serious consideration.
Yes, St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School is a good nursery. Ofsted rated the school Good overall in January 2024, with Outstanding grades for behaviour and attitudes and personal development. These ratings reflect effective early years provision, exceptional work developing children's social and emotional skills, and a curriculum built around loving learning, independence, collaboration, and creativity. The school's Forest School approach, purpose-built facilities, and federation partnerships with Avondale Park Primary and the wider Fox Federation strengthen its educational offer.
Parents can register children on the application list from age 2 by completing an application form available from the school website or by contacting the school directly. The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 4, with places typically beginning in September, though admissions may occur at other times if vacancies arise. Prospective families should arrange a visit to the nursery to see the facilities and discuss the school's practices. Contact the school at 0207 727 7727 or info@stannesnursery.co.uk to request an application form and book a visit. Applications are assessed using proximity to the school and other oversubscription criteria, with priority given to Kensington and Chelsea residents.
St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School operates from 9:15 to 15:15 Monday to Friday during term time. The nursery also offers wraparound care through a Breakfast Club and Early Years Extended Club, extending the day for families who need additional hours. Both part-time and full-time places are available.
The nursery does not operate a strict catchment area, but proximity to the school measured by the shortest reasonable walking route is a key factor in the oversubscription criteria. Priority is given to applicants whose parents are residents of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Families living closer to Sirdar Road generally have better chances of securing places when applications exceed availability.
Forest School is an outdoor learning approach that forms an integral part of St Anne's curriculum. Children engage in regular, repeated sessions in natural outdoor environments, using hands-on experiences with natural materials to develop confidence, risk assessment skills, social abilities, and environmental awareness. At St Anne's, Forest School is woven into ongoing practice rather than being an occasional activity, supported by the nursery's large outdoor spaces.
Yes, St Anne's & Avondale Park Nursery School offers both part-time and full-time education places for children aged 3 to 4. The nursery does not typically offer places for less than two terms except in special circumstances. Parents should discuss their preferred arrangement when applying.
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