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Nursery at Ethelred Nursery School and Children's Centre
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen in Kennington and nature learning at Roots and Shoots give Ethelred’s nursery provision a clear character: children get their hands dirty, then carry those discoveries into stories and artwork. This is a nursery school with a Children’s Centre alongside it, rather than a nursery class within a primary school.
Orange Room takes two-year-olds; children move to Green Room at three. The school occupies a modern building opened in September 2018. It lists 55 full-time-equivalent nursery places and separately describes 22 full-time-equivalent places in the two-year-old class. These are capacity measures, rather than headcounts.
Play shapes the learning. Children can pursue an interest over time, pretend, make choices and try again after mistakes. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives that play a purpose: developing movement, relationships and communication alongside early maths, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. Planning covers learning outside as well as inside.
Natural Thinkers connects the nursery garden with Roots and Shoots. Children dig, sow seeds and plant flowers; spring and summer visits introduce habitats, pond creatures and beekeeping. Stories and imaginative activities bring those experiences back into the nursery. Nature becomes something children investigate, rather than simply hear about.
In July 2024, story activities included puppets and baking Gruffalo crumble, combining new language with measuring and taking turns. However, Ofsted’s ungraded inspection on 11 July 2024 retained the school’s Outstanding judgement while warning that a graded inspection could produce a lower outcome. Curriculum sequencing. At that point, teaching did not consistently build the precise knowledge and vocabulary children needed in a clear order. Families should weigh the engaging activities alongside that substantive concern.
Every child has a key person, the family’s first contact. Settling begins with an offered home visit and nursery visits with a parent or carer present. Parents and the key person agree when the child is ready to stay alone, often beginning with brief separations. That makes the first independent session a shared decision.
Learning records are discussed with parents each term, including next steps. SEND support includes a sensory room, visual aids, Makaton and music therapy, with teaching assistants working under the SENCo. In July 2024, speech and language work was effective and the nurture room supported children with more complex needs; safeguarding arrangements were effective too.
Milk and fruit are provided daily, with water accessible throughout the day. Lunch arrangements. Daily routines require full-day children to bring a labelled, nut-free packed lunch, with vouchers for eligible free-school-meal families; the School Meals page also offers meals to children staying for lunch. Confirm the arrangement with the office before starting. Breakfast club provides menu choices, while after-school meals follow a menu across the week.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet its deadline. Choose Ethelred for the nursery experience, and treat the primary-school application as another decision.
The part-time pattern for three- and four-year-olds includes a full day, giving children experience of lunch and a longer school routine. This is preparation for primary school, rather than an admissions advantage.
Provision is term-time. For two-year-olds, half days run from 9am to noon or 12.30pm to 3.30pm, five days a week; full days run from 9.15am to 3.15pm. Eligible children can access funded hours through the Early Learning Offer or Working Families offer, with up to 30 hours under the latter.
For three- and four-year-olds, the 15-hour pattern combines four mornings (9.15am to 11.45am) or afternoons (12.45pm to 3.15pm) with one allocated full day. Eligible working families can access some 30-hour places, running 9.15am to 3.15pm, Monday to Friday. Additional hours can be paid for; ask the school for current charges. School-fund contributions are voluntary.
Breakfast club starts at 8am and must be booked the previous day. After-school club runs until 5.45pm, with booking required by lunchtime. Holiday childcare is offered at Effra rather than on site.
Use the online enquiry form or call 020 7582 9711, option 1; nursery visits are offered on Wednesdays. Comfortable, washable clothes and safe outdoor shoes suit the activities. Tell the key person when your child arrives; anyone collecting on your behalf must be identified to staff and know the child’s password.
The nursery takes children aged two to four. Two-year-olds are based in Orange Room and move to Green Room when they turn three.
Families are offered a home visit and nursery visits with a parent or carer present. The key person and parent agree when the child is ready for short periods alone.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee Reception admission. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process.
It combines four morning or afternoon sessions with one full day, allocated according to availability, to make up 15 hours.
Breakfast club starts at 8am and is booked the day before. After-school club runs until 5.45pm and must be booked by lunchtime. Both are charged services.
