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Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool

Ofsted: Good
(May 2023)
·
3.2(5 parent reviews) ·21/23 Castalia Square, Docklands, London, E14 3NG · Tower Hamlets
Number of places
26 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
May 2023
Local authority
Tower Hamlets

About this day nursery

Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool, situated in the heart of Tower Hamlets and a short walk from Canary Wharf, has been providing childcare for over 20 years. Formerly known as Headstart Day Nursery, it serves the E14 area and surrounding communities.

The nursery is praised for its warm and kind staff who encourage happy, independent play by offering a diverse range of activities tailored to children's interests, as noted in their "Good" Ofsted report from 2023. The Montessori approach is central to their philosophy, fostering independence and self-esteem through a prepared environment that empowers children.

The facility benefits from its location in an award-winning 1950s square with proximity to free open spaces and local parks, as well as convenient parking options for drop-offs and pick-ups. Castalia Montessori also emphasizes parent partnership, encouraging families to be actively involved in their child's learning journey through tools like the EyLog Parent App, which provides updates on observations and development.

They offer flexible booking patterns and a variety of funding options to support families.

Our ethos

Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool's philosophy is rooted in the Montessori approach, which fosters independence and self-esteem. They aim to create a prepared environment that empowers children, encouraging happy, independent play through activities tailored to their interests. The nursery also values parent partnership, actively involving families in their child's learning journey.

What it's like

Children arrive happily at this warm and welcoming setting and confidently separate from their parents, showing they feel safe and secure. Staff have high expectations for all children, who make good progress from their individual starting points and show positive attitudes to learning. Children receive lots of praise from staff, which helps to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Montessori ApproachGood Ofsted RatingFlexible BookingParent Partnership

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Key facts

Opening hours

8.00am - 6.00pm (Mon - Fri)

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2014

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool

Last inspected 31 May 2023 · Sapfo Pantzaki

Safeguarding effective
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 arrive happily at this warm and welcoming setting and confidently separate from their parents, showing they feel safe and secure. Staff have high expectations for all children, who make good progress from their individual starting points and show positive attitudes to learning. Children receive lots of praise from staff, which helps to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Inspector highlights

  • Children arrive happily and feel safe and secure, forming strong bonds with staff.
  • Children make good progress and show positive attitudes to learning.
  • Opportunities for fine and gross motor skills development are excellent.
  • Communication and language development is a key priority, with staff reading enthusiastically and children engaged in singing sessions.
  • Partnership with parents is effective, with leaders supporting the whole family and signposting services.

Areas to develop

  • 1continue to develop staff's interactions with children to help enhance children's critical thinking skills even further.
Inspection #10285975 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are making good progress from their starting points. The staff team and leaders work closely with parents and outside professionals to identify and support children to achieve to the best of their ability.

Outdoor space

Children have excellent opportunities to develop their gross motor skills. During the day, they spend time in the garden, where they use bicycles, scooters and balls to build their physical skills.

EAL / language support

All children, including those who speak English as additional language, are making good progress from their starting points. The staff team and leaders work closely with parents and outside professionals to identify and support children to achieve to the best of their ability.

Parent Reviews of Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool

3.2
(5)
alan chen
5 months ago

Our three children have been attending Castalia Montessori since 2019, and we couldn’t be happier with the care they’ve received. They have always been well looked after, learning and making friends happily in a nurturing environment. While the premises may not look as polished as some other nurseries in the area, the real strength here is the staff. The turnover is very low, and Karen has been there since we first started — her and the team’s consistency and dedication are the main reasons we felt confident sending both our second and third children here. Every morning, our children feel extremely comfortable going in, which speaks volumes about the atmosphere. Communication is excellent too; we are contacted immediately if anything requires our attention. The only small downside this year is the limited number of pre-school children, which makes the setting more suited to younger age groups. That said, the quality of care and the stability of the staff more than make up for it. Highly recommended for families looking for a safe, caring, and consistent nursery experience.

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S Ali
5 months ago

This place has supported not just 1 of my boys but 3 of them. My youngest has started in September and there was worries with speech delay as he wasnt babbling at all at the age of 2. Since speaking to Karen and the team, he has progressed quickly where words are clear and positive. Cannot thank them enough for how happy the kids are and settled.

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Ess Kay
8 months ago

Very unprofessional. Booked a viewing for the nursery (as advised). Turned up on the day and there was no one there to open the doors. Stood in the cold with my child for 15+ mins waiting for someone from reception to call back. Not only did they not call back, but they would not pick up subsequent calls. Terrible first impression and a reflection of what’s to come. Will not be going ahead with the application.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Castalia Montessori Day Nursery and Preschool. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: July 2014

  • May 2023Good
  • October 2017Outstanding
  • July 2014Good

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