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Nursery at Dulwich Wood Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A mud kitchen, a reading shed and a mini-woodland give play plenty of room at Dulwich Wood Nursery School. This maintained nursery on Lyall Avenue takes children aged two to five, with term-time provision and links to Dulwich Wood Primary School through wraparound care. Outdoor exploration is a defining feature.
Ofsted’s February 2026 inspection graded curriculum and teaching, achievement and inclusion at Strong standard. Communication receives sustained attention, with children developing vocabulary and becoming more confident conversationalists. That matters for children who need help expressing themselves as well as those already eager to talk.
Play sets the pace. Children have extended periods to pursue their interests, while adults join activities and adjust learning as ideas emerge. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: learning, development, health and safety are considered together. Here, staff use children’s interests to plan experiences, rather than expecting everyone to follow an identical activity.
Indoor and outdoor workshop spaces allow children to choose materials independently. Outside, vegetable patches sit alongside a digging patch, music area and performance space. The garden remains part of learning whatever the weather. Small groups also attend weekly Forest School sessions in Sydenham Woods, where activities include shelter construction and searching for small creatures. These give children practical reasons to cooperate and investigate nature.
Stories have a daily place in the programme. Children invent narratives, grow seedlings and try recipes; bikes and scooters add physical challenge outdoors. Adults introduce words through conversation and extend children’s thinking during both chosen play and organised activities. Early number work and writing develop progressively, with older children beginning structured work on sounds.
The Learning Tool Kit adds attention to how children learn. The nursery’s approach includes encouraging persistence, empathy and cooperation, giving children ways to tackle difficulties and work alongside friends.
Before starting, families are offered a home visit and a discussion with their child’s teacher. A key person system supports relationships, while termly Learning Reviews bring parents into conversations about targets and interests. This connects learning at nursery with the child’s life at home.
Emotional support is practical. Adults help children identify feelings and repair relationships after disagreements, and provide steady reassurance when a child becomes overwhelmed. Children also practise independence around food: they learn to handle tools when preparing snack fruit and help themselves at lunch. Supervised toothbrushing, yoga and physical play contribute to health routines.
Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) begins with assessments and information from families. Individual plans, visual prompts and adapted activities help children participate. A speech and language specialist supports provision and staff training; daily staff discussions and termly progress checks help refine support. In February 2026, safeguarding requirements were met. The inspection’s next step was to preserve the quality of provision through continued curriculum review and adjustment.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process; applications to Dulwich Wood Primary School go through Southwark Council. Apply by the relevant Reception deadline.
Preparation for the next stage happens through everyday learning. Children practise taking turns, listening and managing feelings, alongside early reading, writing and mathematics. These skills support the move to school, independently of the admissions decision.
Morning sessions run from 08:35 to 11:35, afternoons from 12:35 to 15:35, and full days for children over three from 08:35 to 15:35. Fifteen funded hours can cover five morning or afternoon sessions. Eligible families can access extended funding, with codes checked each term; additional paid hours attract charges and are subject to availability, nursery discretion and the child's needs. Confirm the funded full-day booking pattern and current charges before committing.
Breakfast Club and After School Club take place at the primary school for children aged three to five. Children must first settle into their nursery hours, and families complete a booking sheet and arrange a visit before starting wraparound care.
Tours run on Wednesday mornings at 09:30. Book through office@dulwichwood.com or 020 7525 1192. For the nursery journey, term-time weekday vehicle restrictions affect Lyall Avenue, Seeley Drive and Bowen Drive between 08:00 and 09:30, then 14:30 and 16:00. Plan collection and drop-off around those restrictions.
The nursery accepts children aged two to five and operates during term time.
Children use vegetable patches, a mud kitchen and a mini-woodland, with small-group weekly Forest School sessions in Sydenham Woods.
Families are offered a home visit and a conversation with the teacher. A key person system supports relationships, and termly Learning Reviews cover learning targets and interests.
Full days are offered for children over three, from 08:35 to 15:35. Wraparound care at the primary school is for three- to five-year-olds who have settled into their nursery place, with booking and a visit required before starting.
No. Reception requires a separate application. Applications to Dulwich Wood Primary School are made through Southwark Council.
