Triangle Nursery School has been a cornerstone of early years education in Brixton since 1954, serving the local community with an unwavering commitment to giving every child a fulfilling start to their educational journey. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted across all categories, this teacher-led local authority nursery school is part of the distinguished Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation, which collectively provides exceptional early education to approximately 650 children aged two to four years. Located at 35 Effra Parade in the Brixton Windrush ward, Triangle operates in federation with Effra Nursery School under the leadership of Head of School Emily Patterson and Executive Headteacher Luke Page. The nursery serves children aged 2 to 4 in a mixed environment, offering free education places with options for extended hours and wrap-around care. From January 2024, Triangle relocated to the Effra site to consolidate resources and expand facilities, creating a single outstanding provision with enhanced space and opportunities for Lambeth's youngest learners.
Founded in 1954, Triangle Nursery School has spent seven decades embedded in the Clapham and Brixton community, evolving alongside the neighbourhoods it serves while maintaining its core mission to nurture confident, independent learners. The school's ethos centres on partnership with parents, recognising that early education succeeds when families and educators work together to provide a happy, stimulating environment where every child can learn and thrive. As a member of the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation since its formation, Triangle shares a collective commitment to high-quality play experiences delivered in an inclusive, safe, caring and stimulating learning environment.
The nursery's teacher-led model distinguishes it from many private settings, with fully qualified teachers working alongside a very experienced and stable staff team. This professional expertise ensures that learning is purposefully structured within a play-based framework, supporting children's cognitive, social, emotional and physical development. The atmosphere emphasises warmth and security, with careful attention to settling-in processes and transitions to primary school. Triangle has historically served an area with significant social diversity, welcoming many children who face multiple disadvantages and providing holistic support that extends beyond the classroom to encompass families' broader needs through its associated children's centre.
The 2024 relocation to the Effra site represents a significant chapter in Triangle's history, driven by a desire to consolidate resources and expand the facilities available to families. Leadership has emphasised that this merger enhances rather than diminishes Triangle's identity, with the combined provision maintaining the outstanding standards for which both nurseries are known. The Effra location offers vast space and improved amenities, allowing the federation to better serve the community while preserving the nurturing, child-centred approach that has defined Triangle for decades.
Triangle Nursery School operates within the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, providing a curriculum designed to develop children's communication, literacy, numeracy, creative and physical skills through purposeful play. The school's Outstanding rating reflects the quality of education delivered by fully qualified teachers and specialist staff, who plan learning experiences tailored to each child's developmental stage and interests. The nursery prioritises early language development, supporting children's communication skills through interactive activities, storytelling and music-making. Reading and writing are introduced organically, with children exploring mark-making, phonics and early literacy concepts in ways that feel playful and relevant to their lives.
Mathematics is woven throughout the day, with children encountering numbers, shapes, patterns and problem-solving in contexts ranging from construction play to outdoor exploration. The curriculum balances adult-led activities with child-initiated play, allowing children to follow their curiosities while benefiting from structured learning opportunities. Triangle's experienced staff team includes specialists in special educational needs and disabilities, reflecting the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation's commitment to inclusive provision. Over the years, federation schools have supported more than 200 children with confirmed or suspected SEND, ensuring that every child receives appropriate scaffolding to progress.
Music therapy and interactive music-making feature prominently in the curriculum, offering children rich sensory experiences and opportunities to express themselves creatively. Forest school provision brings outdoor learning to the forefront, with children engaging with natural materials, developing risk-awareness and building resilience in an open-air classroom. These programmes reflect a holistic view of education that values children's emotional wellbeing and personal development alongside academic readiness. While nursery schools do not produce formal attainment data comparable to primary or secondary settings, Triangle's Outstanding Ofsted rating and sustained success in preparing children for the next stage of education speak to the effectiveness of its approach.
The nursery's wrap-around care extends from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM for 38 weeks per year, offering breakfast and after-school provision that supports working families. This extended day allows for a rhythm that accommodates children's need for rest, play and structured learning without feeling rushed or overly academic. Parents can access free entitlement hours and pay for additional sessions as needed, creating flexibility that responds to different family circumstances. The associated children's centre at Triangle provides pre-booked small group sessions and family support services, embedding the nursery within a wider network of early years provision.
Life at Triangle Nursery School revolves around play, exploration and social interaction, with children moving freely between indoor and outdoor learning environments. The relocation to the Effra site has expanded the physical space available, with facilities described as vast compared to the original Triangle premises. Outdoor areas support active play, forest school activities and nature-based learning, allowing children to climb, dig, build and investigate in ways that develop gross motor skills and confidence. Indoor spaces accommodate a range of learning zones, from role-play areas and creative workshops to quiet reading corners and construction zones, ensuring that children can find activities matching their interests and energy levels throughout the day.
The nursery's stable staff team provides continuity and familiarity, with many practitioners having worked in the Lambeth federation for years. This stability creates a secure base for children, who form strong attachments to their key workers and benefit from consistent routines. Social development is supported through group activities, collaborative play and gentle guidance around sharing, turn-taking and conflict resolution. Behaviour expectations are developmentally appropriate, with staff using positive reinforcement and modelling to help children understand social norms and self-regulation.
Music and movement feature daily, with interactive music-making sessions offering children opportunities to experiment with instruments, rhythm and song. Forest school sessions take learning beyond the traditional nursery setting, immersing children in natural environments where they can take supervised risks and develop a connection with the outdoors. These experiences complement classroom learning, reinforcing concepts like seasons, lifecycles and physical change through direct observation. The nursery's breakfast and after-school clubs extend the day in ways that feel relaxed and homelike, with children eating together, engaging in free play and building friendships across age groups.
As a nursery school serving children aged 2 to 4, Triangle Nursery School does not formally track which primary schools children progress to, as families make individual choices based on catchment areas and admissions policies. However, the nursery's location in Brixton positions it well for families considering local primary schools in Lambeth, particularly those in the Clapham and Brixton neighbourhoods. The nursery's staff team supports families through the primary school application process, offering guidance on timelines and helping children prepare for transition to reception classes.
Triangle Nursery School's approach to special educational needs reflects the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation's expertise in inclusive provision. The nursery employs fully qualified teachers and SEND specialists who work collaboratively to identify children's needs early and implement tailored support strategies. Over the years, federation schools have supported more than 200 children with confirmed or suspected special educational needs and disabilities, demonstrating a strong track record in this area. Staff receive ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices in early years SEN support.
The nursery's small size and high adult-to-child ratios facilitate individualised attention, with key workers monitoring each child's progress and adapting provision as needed. Parents are involved as partners in the support process, with regular communication ensuring that strategies used at nursery can be reinforced at home. The associated children's centre offers additional family support services, creating a holistic network around children with additional needs.
Ofsted's most recent inspection in April 2025 reaffirmed Triangle Nursery School's Outstanding rating, which it has maintained since 2009 across multiple inspection cycles. Inspectors rated the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management as Outstanding in all categories. This consistent excellence over more than 15 years demonstrates not only high standards but also the sustainability of those standards through leadership transitions and external changes. The nursery's membership in the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation further validates its quality, as the federation is recognised for providing outstanding early years provision that supports children and families in areas of high deprivation with skill, inclusivity and holistic care.
Admission to Triangle Nursery School is coordinated by Lambeth Council as part of the local authority's nursery school provision. The nursery offers free education places for eligible 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, with funding available through the government's early education entitlement schemes. Parents can apply by contacting the school directly, with tours available for prospective families to visit the Effra site and meet staff. The nursery operates 38 weeks per year from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with families able to access their funded hours or pay for additional sessions as needed. Applications are typically processed through an enquiry form, with priority often given to children living nearest to the school or those with particular needs.
The nursery does not operate catchment areas in the same way as primary schools, but families living in Brixton, Clapham and surrounding Lambeth neighbourhoods form the core intake. Demand for places at Outstanding-rated local authority nurseries tends to be high, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Brixton. Early application is advisable, and families may wish to consider multiple nursery options to ensure they secure a place. The associated children's centre also offers services and sessions, providing additional touchpoints for families to engage with the Triangle community. Contact details are available via the Effra and Triangle website or by calling 020 7733 8425, and prospective families are encouraged to visit and experience the setting first-hand before making decisions.
Triangle Nursery School represents the gold standard in early years education, combining seven decades of community service with sustained Ofsted Outstanding ratings across every inspection category. Its teacher-led model, experienced staff team and membership in the acclaimed Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation distinguish it from many private nursery settings, offering families access to high-quality, inclusive provision with specialist support for children with additional needs. The 2024 relocation to the Effra site has expanded facilities and resources, creating a single federated provision with vast space and enhanced opportunities for learning through play, outdoor exploration and creative activities.
For families in Brixton and Clapham seeking a nurturing, developmentally appropriate start to their child's education, Triangle delivers exceptional value. The nursery's commitment to partnership with parents, its inclusive ethos and its holistic approach to child development ensure that children leave ready for primary school academically, socially and emotionally. The availability of extended hours and wrap-around care from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM supports working families, while free entitlement funding makes Outstanding provision accessible regardless of financial circumstances. Given the consistent demand for places at high-performing local authority nurseries in Lambeth, early enquiry and application are essential.
Triangle Nursery School is an ideal choice for families who value qualified teachers, inclusive practice and a play-based curriculum delivered in a stimulating, caring environment. The school's long history, stable staff team and sustained excellence make it a trusted partner in the earliest years of childhood education.
Yes, Triangle Nursery School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all categories, a rating it has maintained since 2009 across multiple inspections. The nursery is part of the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation, recognised for providing exceptional early years education to approximately 650 children and their families. With a teacher-led model, experienced staff including SEND specialists, and comprehensive support services, Triangle offers some of the highest-quality early years provision available in Lambeth.
Applications are made directly to the school by contacting them at 020 7733 8425 or through the Effra and Triangle website. Prospective families can arrange tours of the Effra site where Triangle is now based. The nursery offers free education places for eligible 2, 3 and 4-year-olds through government early education entitlement funding, with options to pay for additional hours. Early application is recommended due to high demand for Outstanding-rated local authority nursery places.
Triangle Nursery School serves children aged 2 to 4 years, providing Early Years Foundation Stage education. The nursery operates 38 weeks per year from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering breakfast club, core nursery sessions and after-school provision to support working families.
Yes, Triangle has strong provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The nursery employs fully qualified SEND specialists and works within the Lambeth Nursery Schools' Federation, which has supported over 200 children with confirmed or suspected SEND. The school's inclusive ethos ensures that every child receives tailored support to thrive.
Since January 2024, Triangle Nursery School has operated from the Effra site at 35 Effra Parade, London SW2 1PL, in Brixton. The relocation consolidated resources with Effra Nursery School to create a federated provision with expanded facilities and enhanced space for children's learning and play.
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