Session types
Part-time sessions, Full-time sessions, Term time only
Barrow Hill Pre-School
Ofsted: Good
(Dec 2023)
Number of places
40 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2023
Local authority
Westminster
About this early years setting
Barrow Hill Pre-School is an established childcare provider nestled in the heart of St John's Wood, London, with a history spanning over 25 years. Originating as a parent-led mother and toddler group, it has evolved into a nurturing environment offering both part-time and full-time sessions during term time.
The pre-school operates as a non-profit, registered charity, dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality early years education. Its curriculum is designed around play-based learning, focusing initially on the prime areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for children aged 2 to 3, including communication, personal-social-emotional development, and physical development.
As children progress to ages 3 and 4, the curriculum expands to incorporate literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. The pre-school emphasises individualised learning through close collaboration between experienced practitioners and families, ensuring each child's unique needs are met.
By ages 4 and 5, the focus shifts to developing confidence, resilience, engagement, and independence, preparing children for a smooth transition to school. Barrow Hill Pre-School fosters a language-rich, inclusive environment that celebrates cultural diversity and incorporates outdoor exploration and community engagement into its learning approach.
The dedicated team, many of whom have personal connections to the nursery through their own children’s attendance, are all highly qualified, first-aid trained, DBS-checked, and committed to continuous professional development.
Our ethos
Our ethos is learning through play.
What it's like
Children are happy and settled at this friendly and welcoming pre-school. Staff are kind and caring, which helps new children to settle quickly. Children are confident and independent.
Charity-runPlay-based learningExperienced staffCommunity-focusedAffordable childcare
Pricing & funding
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Opening hours
Mon - Fri, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Age range
2-5 years
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Barrow Hill Pre-School
Last inspected 7 December 2023
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children are happy and settled at this friendly and welcoming pre-school. Staff are kind and caring, which helps new children to settle quickly. Children are confident and independent.
Inspector highlights
- The teaching of communication and language is a real strength in the pre-school.
- Staff encourage children to choose the books they want to listen to and organise trips to the theatre to motivate a love of books.
- Leaders are dedicated to providing children with good-quality care and education and provide staff with ongoing supervision.
- Staff plan opportunities for children to develop good physical control and promote healthy lifestyles.
- Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour and model the language of numbers effectively.
Areas to develop
- 1build further on the plans for training, coaching and development for staff, to help them to raise the quality of education to the highest level.
Inspection #10318843 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
"Parents' feedback is very complimentary. They say kind and caring staff support the whole family, not just their children."
"Parents comment they are kept well informed about their child's progress."
"They say that the pre-school is a big part of the local community."
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
Outdoor space
Children enjoy the outdoor area. They laugh as they run and chase staff and one another with toy dinosaurs.
Google Reviews of Barrow Hill Pre-School
5.0
(8 Google reviews)
Charlotte Norris
2 months ago
Barrow Hill is a lovely preschool in the heart of St John's Wood, London. The setting is small, warm and friendly. The children are learning so much. The staff are attentive, professional and friendly. Thank you for your amazing service Barrow Hill! Can't recommend enough.
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Alaa M
3 months ago
I am extremely happy with Barrow Hill Pre-School and the wonderful care they provide. When my daughter first started, she was very attached to me and would cry when I left. However, in less than a week, the staff helped her become confident and comfortable. She quickly stopped crying and now walks in happily, excited for her day. She can’t wait for morning to come so she can go back. The staff are very experienced, sweet, and kind. They truly care for the children and look after my daughter as if she were their own. Their warmth, patience, and professionalism made her feel safe, loved, and secure from the very beginning, which means so much to me as parent. I am amazed at how much she is learning. She comes home singing beautiful songs like “Frère Jacques,” Christmas songs, “Old McDonald,” and their lovely good morning song. She is also developing excellent drawing skills and can colour neatly inside a circle, which shows how much support and encouragement she receives. It is clear that this nursery provides a nurturing, professional, and encouraging environment where children grow in confidence and learn new skills every day. My daughter is so happy there, and that makes us very happy too. I feel completely comfortable leaving her in their care, and I will definitely continue with them next year. Highly recommended.
Read on Google
anissa anissa
a year ago
Both my children had such a lovely experience at Barrowhill Preschool. Mandy and the team are incredibly warm and loving with the children, creating a nurturing environment where I felt completely confident leaving them each day. They truly care about each child's development and happiness, and I couldn't have asked for a better place for my kids to grow and learn!
Read on Google
Chris Twigg
a year ago
Our daughter attended Barrow Hill Pre-School had she and we had such a wonderful experience. The team are absolutely amazing; they really cared about understanding our daughter and helping her grow. They were also very proactive with us as a family and explained everything that they were doing and why they were doing it. It's a real gem in the area.
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Janet Bassett
a year ago
Both my children (adults now) and my grandaughters went to this nursery. It has always been a great pre school for children. It gave my twins grandaughters the perfect grounding for starting school. They were given confidence and social skills needed to go forward to school life. I would recommend the nursery to anyone who wanted their children to be looked after by amazing, caring staff.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Barrow Hill Pre-School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: November 2013
- December 2023Good
- December 2022Good
- February 2017Good
- November 2013Good
Frequently asked about Barrow Hill Pre-School
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