There are many different options for early learning for the under 5s. This page lists some local options but is not all-encompassing. For further information see the links below.
Early learning (based on the UK government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS programme of learning for children under 5) is available through:
- nursery classes attached to schools run by the Local Authority
- nursery schools attached to independent pre-prep or primary school
- private nursery schools
- nursery schools run by the Local Authority
- private day nurseries
- Sure Start Children’s Centres
- preschool playgroups
- reception classes
- accredited childminders
For more general information on these options you can visit Directgov Nurseries, Playgroups and Reception classes or City of Westminster Early Education for Three and Four Year Olds.
Nursery Schools, Pre-Prep Schools and Day Nurseries:
The Beehive on Queen’s Park Montessori School
147 Chevening Road, NW6 6DZ – 020 8969 2235
Carlton Hill Day Nursery
86 Carlton Hill, NW8 – 020 7624 3814
The Co-operative Childcare Maida Vale
The Annex, Essendine Road, W9 2LR – 0800 954 0669
Dorothy Gardner Nursery School
293 Shirland Road, W9 3JY
Elgin Pre-School
Community Centre, Kincardine Gardens, Harrow Road W9 3RP – 020 7289 7895
Happy Child
2 Victoria Road, NW6 6QG – 020 7328 8791
Liberal Jewish Synagogue Nursery School
28 St. John’s Wood Road, NW8 7HA
Little Sweethearts Montessori School
St Saviour’s Church Hall, Warwick Avenue, W9 2PT – 020 7266 1616
Mary Paterson Nursery School
13 Riverton Close, W9 3DS
Naima Jewish Preparatory School
21 Andover Place, NW6 5ED
Parkview Lodge Pre-School
Senior Street, W2 5TL – 0207 289 6714
The Playhouse
235 Lanark Road, W9 1RA – 020 7624 3939
Primary Steps Day Nursery
32 North Wharf Rd, W2 1LA – 020 7724 7612
Rainbow Family Centre
Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ rated inclusive nursery, offering very competitive day rates (for ages 2-5), for both mainstream children and those with special needs (complex learning & physical disabilities).
11 Bravington Road London W9 3HL – 02089682690
“we’re run by a local charity (wspld) and will be launching a dedicated website to Rainbow in March 2013.”
Rainbow Montessori
Nursery and elementary education for children aged 2 1/2 to 12 years old.
13 Woodchurch Road, NW6 3PL – 020 7624 4046
St. John’s Wood Early Care and Education Centres
Bright Horizons
70 Marlborough Hill, St John’s Wood, NW8 0NH – 0800 432 0767
St. Judes Day Nursery
88 Bravington Road, W9 3AL – 020 7641 5837
Teddies Nurseries
West Hampstead
2 West End Lane, NW6 4NT – 020 7372 3290
Tigerlillies Pre-School
St John’s Wood Terrace, NW8 6LP – 020 7998 8323
Toddlers Inn Nursery
Cicely Davies Hall, Cochrane Street, NW8 7NX
The Vestry Pre-School
Abercorn Place, NW8 9YD – 020 7624 2705
Warwick Estate Day Nursery
Cirencester Sreet, W2 5SR – 020 7641 4361
West Hampstead Day Nursery
11 Woodchurch Road, NW6 3PL – 020 7328 4787
Windmill Montessori Nursery School
email admin @ windmillnurseryschool dot com
Primary schools
Many schools (both state and independent) now have nursery classes for children aged between three and five. This includes a “reception” class for children in the year before they officially start school.
State:
Download Westminster: Your Choice for Primary Education (for students entering September 2013)
We have only listed schools in Westminster, but you may find that your nearest school is in Brent or Kensington & Chelsea. You can apply for all these schools through the pan-London process.
New free school scheduled to open in September 2014:
Seacole Primary School
New free school in Little Venice just opened September 2012:
CET Primary School Westminster, North Wharf Road, W2
BBC Q&A on Academies and Free Schools
ARK Atwood Third Avenue, W10
Essendine Primary School Essendine Road, W9
Queen’s Park Primary School Droop Street, W10
Robinsfield Infant School Ordnance Hill, NW8
St. Augustine’s C of E Primary School (Church of England) Kilburn Park Road, NW6
St. Luke’s C of E Primary Schoool (Church of England) Fernhead Road, W9
St. Mary Magdalene C of E Primary School (Church of England) Rowington Close, Warwick Estate, W2
St. Joseph’s RC Primary School (Catholic) Lanark Road, W9
St. Peter’s C of E Primary School (Church of England) Chippenham Mews, W9
St. Saviour’s C of E Primary School (Church of England) Shirland Road, W9
Wilberforce Primary School Beethoven Street, W10
Independent:
Co-Ed
Abercorn School NW8
American School in London NW8
Connaught House W2
Devonshire House NW3
L’Ecole Bilingue W2
Lloyd Williamson W10
North Bridge House Junior School NW3
The Phoenix (University College Schools Junior Branch) NW3
Willoughby Hall Dyslexia Centre NW3
Stephenson School W10
Thomas Schools multiple campuses
Southbank International multiple campuses
St James Junior School (there is a boys and a girls school for older children) W14
Boys
Arnold House NW8
Hall School NW3
Hawkesdown House W8
Hereward House NW3
St Anthony’s NW3
Girls
Sarum Hall NW3
St. Christina’s independent school for boys aged 3 to 7 years and girls aged 3 to 11 years, NW8
St. Christopher’s NW3
St. Margaret’s NW3
St. Mary’s school for girls that accepts boys aged of 2 1/2 to 7 years, NW3
South Hampstead High School for Girls NW3
Educational Resources to Help You With Your Choices:
Angels and Urchins Education section
The Independent School Show
10 and 11 November 2012 in Battersea Park featuring these schools and more: King’s Canterbury, Wellington College, Harrow, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Marlborough, Port Regis, Windlesham House School. Download your complimentary ticket.
Information from Westminster Council
Ofsted: The official body for inspecting schools
Good Schools Guide
Guide to independent and state schools.
Sunday Times Parent Power
A searchable database, of state and independent schools available to subscribers.
Tutor Hunt
We provide a completely free service both tutors and students to locate each other. We are used by thousands of parents/students and feel Tutor Hunt would be a useful resource for your readers.
The School Run
A parenting website to help parents with their child’s education, including tips to motivate your child to learn, simple strategies to end the homework wars, signs of dyslexia and more.
Actingworks
New business in W9 that offers classes after school teaching a variety of subjects including yoga, Spanish, guitar and drama for Primary School aged children. The classes take place in St. Peter’s Church Hall on Elgin Avenue.
BrightSpark Education
Connects you to maths tutors online.
Kumon
MVM Amy shares some helpful information about Kumon at the Amadeus Centre on Shirland Road.
THANK YOU GENEVIEVE for helping with this page!
Hi Maidavale Mums, fantastic initiative and this is a great overview of schools in and around Maidavale. I’ve set up a new page to help especially internationals to find the top pre-preps in Central London by sharing impressions from all my school visits and research I did. Have a look on
http://www.londonpreprep.com
and if you agree with me that this is a useful new site, I would be very grateful if you would add it to your list of “educational resources” here.
Thanks!
Anke.