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Best nurseries in Clapham

Working families in the area depend on caring, educational and reliable provision near home or ideally placed for the work commute. From occasional mornings to full-time pre-school, we explore the range of local nurseries in Clapham.
Pupils and teacher reading together at Eaton House the Manor Nursery
Eaton House the Manor Nursery, Clapham

Nurseries in the area are generally of a good standard with cheerfully decorated rooms, ample collections of toys, books, puzzles and games, gardens for outdoor learning and facilities for a great range of art and craft activities. Most follow the play-based EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum and combine it with other popular early years’ philosophies such as Montessori. All focus on developing babies and small children’s intellectual, social, emotional and physical development through an extensive range of activities.

The two types of nursery found most commonly in the area are nursery schools (or kindergartens) and day nurseries.

Nursery schools here tend to cater for children from 2-5-years-old, often on a part-time basis, usually 9am-12pm and/or 1pm-3.30pm during school term time only. Clapham parents are spoilt for choice with the likes of Noah’s Ark (Dolphin School), The Marmalade Cat, The Little Red Hen, The Willows, Nightingale and Clapham Montessoris, The Park Kindergarten, Eaton House The Manor Nursery and there is also a French pre-school nursery at L’Ecole de Battersea.

Belleville Primary School, Bonneville Primary School, Honeywell Infant School and Macauley Church of England Primary School are just some of the many local state primary schools with nursery classes taking children from 3+. These usually operate on a part-time basis with the option to pay for a full-time place. Like their attached primaries, they are closed 13 weeks of the year for school holidays. And be aware, a place in the nursery comes with no guarantee of being accepted into the reception class of a school.

Working parents tend to head for day nurseries. These are open on a full-time basis, 50 weeks a year, with hours typically 8am-6pm. They provide full-time care and education from around 3 months up to 5 years. Popular chains are abundant in the area: Bright Horizons has two branches in SW11 and SW4, Fennies in SW9, Kido is in SW11, Partou on Lavender Hill. Woodentops in Clapham Common is based at The White House Preparatory School and has a second branch in Abbeville Village. Lavender Hill and an Anglo-Spanish nursery are just off Clapham High Street. Easy to see why Clapham has earned the nickname Nappy Valley.

Many private schools in the area offer nursery and pre-school provision. Broomwood School and Newton Prep have a pre-school year while Parkgate House School, The Roche School, Dolphin School, The White House Preparatory School (as mentioned above) and Eaton House The Manor all take children from 2-years-old at their term-time only nurseries. There’s usually seamless transition into reception at all of these but watch out, some request registering your child as early as birth.

Special provision for nursery-age children with SEND can be found at Balham Nursery and at the Clapham Manor Heathbrook site in Nine Elms, Dewdrops Nursery, Streatham and the Maytree Children’s Centre in east Clapham.