Natural materials art at The Elephant Nursery London SE17

Our Nurseries

We have two nurseries which offer full and part-time childcare, Monday to Friday, 8.00am - 6.00pm for children aged 6 months to 5 years. Our nurseries are located in SE5 and SE17.

Our nursery fees offer a competitive rate and include meals, snacks, wipes and reusable nappies. We also offer government funded places for 15 and 30 hours.

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

12 Chumleigh Gardens, Burgess Park, London, SE5 0RN

Chumleigh Gardens Creche - Trikes and garden
 

  • Ofsted rating: Good

    Located in the leafy surroundings of Burgess Park in SE5, this nursery is set within our modern, purpose-built Children and Family Centre. 

    It has a large indoor space, three gardens and access to the ‘beach’ and sensory room in the Children and Family Centre. Its location in Burgess Park provides easy access to Cobourg Nature Reserve and excellent transport links.

    View Gallery

1st Place at The Elephant

15 Hampton Street, London SE17 3AN

The Elephant Nursery - SE17 London
 

  • The Elephant is our newest nursery, opening in Summer 2023.

    The nursery is located near Elephant and Castle station and benefits from great transport links allowing regular trips to local parks and a nature reserve for Forest School and outings.

    Due to the central location museums and theatre are easily accessible by walking or bus. We've enjoyed making the most of this!

    The interior has a spacious and airy feel and is made up of 7 rooms including a sensory room. Outdoors, we have two secure play areas where children can play with trikes and toys, enjoy planting or relax in the reading corner.

    View gallery.

Smiling Child at nursery - The Elephant - SE17 Elephant and Castle

Our Approach

At 1st Place, we believe that every child is unique and full of potential. Our nurseries deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and provide a learning experience inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

At 1st Place, we value children as individuals with unique needs, abilities and potential. We foster a culture where children are respected as social beings and can feel safe to express themselves. We see children as creative thinkers and researchers, and we encourage them to explore hands-on experiences that spark curiosity and wonder. Here, childhood is valued in its own right along with the understanding that what children do is significant now and for the future.

An Educational Philosophy

Our approach is based on the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, which includes:

  • Encouraging children to take the lead in their learning.

  • Nurturing children’s ideas and theories.

  • Community support and parental involvement.

  • Recognising and celebrating the many ways that children have of expressing themselves (also known as ‘The Hundred Languages of Children’).

Your Child’s Journey

We work in partnership with you to create a positive learning experience that is enjoyable for your child and supports their development.

This includes:

  • A pre-admissions meeting for us to discuss the shared care of your child including their routine and interests.

  • A home visit so that your child can meet their Key Person in their own environment before they start nursery.

  • A gradual settling-in period for your child to become familiar with the nursery environment and their new friends.

  • Regular communication about your child’s activities at nursery including observations, photos and videos. All accessible on a secure app on your computer or mobile device.

  • A parents’ meeting twice a year to discuss the overall progress of your child’s development.

  • A Parents’ Forum to explore different topics, answer any of your questions and provide an opportunity to meet other parents from across our nurseries.

See what our parents have to say…

  • 5 star review

    We could not be happier with the nursery, our daughter is well cared for and stimulated. Their child-led approach gives the children agency over the activities and how they play.

    The staff are fantastic, patient, caring, and engaged with the children. Our daughter talks about them and knows them all as individuals as well as the people who look after her during the day.

    The relatively small size of the nursery and its central location means they have easy access to transport and central London. They often go on trips to museums or shows and explore the city in small groups on foot too. They also have access to a Forest School which our daughter has loved, especially when she was taught how to safely use a saw to cut wood!

    Thank you to all the staff, you do an amazing job!

  • 5 star review

    Staff at 1st Place are phenomenal. My son adores his 'adults' and excitedly asks if he is going to nursery every day. The extra activities organised are fantastic, Inc. Forest School, trips to fun museums, visits from or to the different emergency services. We, and he, could not be happier.

    Thank you 1st Place

  • 5 star review

    We really love 1st Place. Our daughter started in January 2022 and the staff have been beyond great. The food they get is healthy and they have a wonderful learning environment. She is always happy to go in and we are always relaxed knowing she is being well taken care of.

  • 5 star review

    I can't rant enough about how brilliant 1st Place is. The staff are wonderful and go above and beyond. It's a magical and nutritional environment for them and I have seen my daughter blossom over the past couple of months of being here.

    There is continuous and well-documented feedback about my daughter's progress as well as plenty of pictures of her playing with other children. I always feel very much involved in her progress and development.

    The management is always present and takes the time to say hello and if we have any concerns we feel comfortable enough to address them. It's a family-orientated nursery and you don't often get this feeling in other settings so we are very pleased. Thank you to everyone for everything.

  • 5 star review

    I cannot speak highly enough of 1st Place. Without a doubt, this nursery deserves a 5-star rating in every aspect.

    My son absolutely loves it there, and it warms my heart to see how much he has thrived. His language, motor skills, and social skills have all seen remarkable improvements, which I attribute to the nurturing environment provided by the dedicated staff.

    I cannot praise them enough. They are exceptional caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure his well-being and development. Their friendliness, love, and support have played a significant role in his growth and happiness at the nursery.

    I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for their child. My son and I are grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories he is creating there.

  • 5 star review

    We have had such a positive experience at 1st Place Chumleigh Gardens. The staff, facilities and overall environment have been so welcoming and nurturing. Our daughter started nursery whe she was 15 months old and has really thrived. We know the high level of care, support and creativity she has experienced at 1st Place have played a crucial part in allowing her to feel safe and comfortable to explore the world around her. We have seen how much she has developed and how happy she is at nursery and are so thankful for the hard work and efforts of all the staff, particularly through the unprecedented challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented them with. We can't recommend them highly enough.

  • 5 star review

    This has to be one of the best nursery in Southwark. We can’t wait for our second son to start when I return back to work. I absolutely love the outings, such as forest school, galleries, musicals, visiting farms and the list goes on.

    The staffs are so professional and super helpful. Our son adores all his nursery teachers. Lastly, 1st place nursery provides this app called blossom for parents and it’s a game changer. It has all the information that I need to know when he’s at nursery, such as, what he ate, if there’s any incident or accident, the activities he did and that includes pictures of him carrying out his work.

    In all, this is a great space for young mind to flourish and I would recommend it for parents to take their children there.

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Our Environment

The physical environment at our nurseries is designed to give children a personal space for action and movement including:

  • A light and shadow studio for exploration and discovery.

  • A studio where children can use open-ended materials to create and experiment.

  • A construction area for children to build their own world, role play and tell stories.

  • A remida filled with recyclable resources that children can use for their creations.

  • An outdoor area for garden play, and physical and creative activities.

Forest School London Nursery - Outdoor learning

Nursery Life

At 1st Place, your child will enjoy:

  • Indoor and outdoor play, circle time, snack time, individual and group activities, and sleep or rest time. Activities will be based on your child’s interests, will nurture their natural curiosity and will encourage learning through play.

  • Forest School sessions for nature-based play and hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment.

  • Trips include visits to the local library, the park and the theatre as well as bespoke trips further afield such as a special creative sessions at the Tate.

Healthy Snacks at London nursery

Meals

Our mealtimes help to establish lifelong healthy eating habits and provide valuable social time to share and care. Our menu has been designed with a dietitian to ensure that it is healthy and well balanced, and we cater for individual dietary requirements and cultural differences including vegetarian and Halal options.

All of our meals are prepared in our on-site kitchen and include a range of options such as tomato and basil pasta, slow cooked lamb with roasted vegetables, and lentil pasta bake. Dessert is either a selection of fresh fruit, organic yoghurt or fresh fruit compote. Fresh water is served with all meals and throughout the day. All meals and snacks are included as part of your nursery fees.

Reusable washable eco friendly nappies

Real Nappies

Our nurseries use Real Nappies (cloth nappies), which we provide free of charge. Unlike disposables, washable cloth nappies can be used again and again. Cloth nappies reduce our impact on the environment, can help children potty train earlier and are more cost effective for our families.