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Nursery at The Villa
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, yoga and learning to manage big feelings give The Villa’s nursery its character. Children join from age two, with provision spanning the years before primary school. This is the nursery within an independent school in Peckham, housed in a purpose-built building. It has its own daily rhythm.
Younger children belong to Bumblebees, Caterpillars or Ladybirds; the preschool groups are Fireflies, Dragonflies and Butterflies. In May 2025, 124 nursery children were organised across six classes. That is a roll figure, rather than a promise of available places.
Children’s interests help shape what happens next. Staff note their ideas and contributions, then use them when planning the following week. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven learning areas through connected topics: language, art, social development and maths can sit within the same project. Our Community, for example, explores working together and understanding the world around them. Play gives these ideas practical meaning.
Building blocks, puzzles and sensory materials support exploration indoors, while the garden gives children room to climb, jump and run. Book corners provide another pace. The hall accommodates dance, yoga and sports, so movement has space alongside quieter activities. During the ISI inspection of 20 to 22 May 2025, nursery children were making good progress in language, communication and personal, social and emotional development through a balance of adult-guided activities and play they initiated themselves.
Music and Movement includes instruments, singing and dancing; French takes place weekly. PE and yoga add physical activity, and visits to the local fire station introduce children to jobs beyond nursery. These are concrete ways to connect classroom learning with people and experiences. The nursery also uses Zones of Regulation to help children recognise feelings and select ways to manage them.
Settling follows the child’s pace. Each child has a matched key worker and individual attention during the introduction to nursery; some build up their sessions quickly, while others take a few weeks. Staff learn about family routines and what comforts the child, giving home and nursery a shared starting point.
Toilet training is coordinated with parents and follows each child’s readiness. Nappy-changing areas and sleep mats support everyday care, with staff monitoring sleep patterns during rest. For children needing additional support, individual plans, fidget toys and now/next boards help make activities and expectations manageable. In May 2025, these nursery strategies supported increasing independence and emotional awareness.
Meals come from the on-site kitchen. The three-week menu draws on Bora and Sons, Proud Sow and Moxons, with organic ingredients used where possible. Dietary options accommodate allergies, intolerances and religious requirements. Children eat in small groups with an adult at each table, making mealtimes an opportunity to practise manners and conversation.
Recruitment checks. The May 2025 inspection identified historical failures to complete staff checks before employment or record them promptly, corrected before the inspection was announced. Monitoring of the central staff record still needed strengthening. Families should weigh this concern alongside the nursery’s daily care arrangements.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families seeking The Villa Pre-Prep must make a separate application using the school’s online form. An autumn observation play session forms part of the process, and staff speak with the child’s key worker. Applicants receive a timetable of key dates.
Transition activities are separate from admission. From the summer term, classroom visits, stories with Reception teachers and shared activities introduce children to new adults and routines. For children moving elsewhere, the nursery welcomes Reception teachers and shares information with their future schools.
The core nursery day runs from 9am to 5pm, with early starts at 8am or 8.30am and care including tea until 6pm. Attendance is at least three days weekly. The nursery opens for 50 weeks each year, with Christmas and summer closures, bank holidays and three staff training days to plan around.
Email admissions@thevillaschoolandnursery.com to arrange an individual tour. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday appointments are offered at 9.30am, 10am and 10.30am. Refer to the school for current charges.
Children can join from age two, with younger groups and separate preschool classes before primary school.
Core hours are 9am to 5pm. Early drop-offs are offered at 8am or 8.30am, and extended care with tea runs until 6pm. Minimum attendance is three days a week.
Each child is matched with a key worker. Individual support and the pace of settling are adapted to the child, with some introductions extending over a few weeks.
Yes. Meals are prepared in-house, with dietary options for allergies, intolerances and religious requirements. Nursery children sit in small groups with an adult at each table.
No. The Villa Pre-Prep requires a separate online application and an autumn observation play session. Transition activities help children prepare for school but do not secure admission.
