Prospect House School Nursery Review

Child-chosen learning zones and a dedicated Early Years playground give Prospect House Nursery its character. Teacher-led activities sit alongside time for children to follow their own interests, with Montessori principles and the Curiosity Approach shaping practical exploration. The balance gives children both direction and room to make choices.

Children join after their third birthday. This is the nursery within Prospect House School, an independent mixed school in Putney, rather than a separate childcare provider. It belongs to the Lower School. At the June 2025 ISI inspection, there were two Nursery classes; the early-years findings covered Nursery and Reception together.

The morning begins at 8.30am with free play, followed at 9am by adult-led learning through play. Early literacy, number work and topic activities occupy the morning; creative projects, outdoor exploration and revisiting learning shape the afternoon. Full-day children have their hot lunch at noon. There is a recognisable rhythm, with choices within it.

The Early Years Foundation Stage connects learning with children's developing communication, independence and relationships. Montessori and Curiosity elements include practising everyday tasks with real objects, repeating actions and refining skills. Children select activities across indoor and outdoor zones, while adults combine planned teaching with responses to their interests.

In June 2025, early-years children developed confident conversation through discussions about their activities, alongside reading, writing and mathematical understanding. Stories and visual materials supported exploration of animals and plants, with outdoor activities encouraging children to investigate and solve problems. Construction, art and writing involved learning to handle tools; outdoor play and PE developed larger movements and coordination.

French begins from age 3 through songs and games. Specialist music teaching starts at the same age, introducing percussion, movement, pitch and nursery rhymes. These give children different ways to listen, communicate and participate. Beyond the playground, an October 2025 Nursery outing to Putney Heath involved looking for autumn leaves and acorns, connecting seasonal learning with the local surroundings.

Settling starts before the first term. For September starters, a late-June induction brings children together with their future teachers and classmates in the classroom, while parents attend a school-life talk. First-term Curriculum Sessions and an Introduction to Phonics talk help parents understand the learning. Class teachers maintain close contact with new families.

Teachers work with teaching assistants, and specialist support can include speech therapy where appropriate. Early-years staff assess learning during daily activities and discuss progress and support at home with parents. In June 2025, responsive adults supported positive behaviour and helped children understand their feelings; stories and role play gave them practice in friendship, cooperation and resolving disagreements. Paediatric first aiders were available in early years.

Food is part of the care routine. Full-day attendance includes a lunch cooked on site; morning snack is included in fees, while morning-only Nursery attendance excludes lunch. Catering accommodates allergies, intolerances, exclusion diets and religious requirements. Early-years adults encourage children to taste unfamiliar foods.

School-wide follow-up. The June 2025 inspection recommended more consistent parent access to inspection documents and EHC provision information, prompt attendance-policy updates and quicker completion of actions from routine safety checks. Website information and the attendance policy were corrected during the visit, but timely maintenance remained a follow-up point. These are useful matters for families to consider alongside the early-years care findings.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Existing Nursery families should confirm their Reception arrangements directly with admissions, rather than assuming that a Nursery place settles the next step. The admissions arrangements describe offers by registration order, with siblings given priority, and offers beginning roughly twelve months before entry. This is the school's own application route.

The fee structure starts with five mornings each week, with afternoons optional. The nursery also describes half-day and full-day attendance. Lower School registration is at 8.30am and its formal day finishes at 3.30pm. Wraparound extends attendance from 7.40am to 6pm, with regular or occasional bookings; clubs and wraparound carry additional charges.

Prospect House accepts government-funded childcare of 15 or 30 hours weekly for children aged 3 and 4, alongside most companies' childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare payments. Fees also cover workshops and non-residential outings. Contact admissions for current charges and use its enquiry form to request a private tour. Plan around the school term dates, including the Lower School's noon finish on term-ending days.