Opening hours
Children typically attend from 9am to 4-5pm to maximise activity benefits, though drop-off and pick-up times are flexible.
Raphael Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2024)
Number of places
85 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Lambeth
About this day nursery
Raphael Nursery offers a distinctive educational approach that combines bilingual French immersion with the respected Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and Montessori principles. This holistic method fosters independence, creativity, and a passion for learning in a stimulating bilingual setting.
The nursery prides itself on its family-oriented atmosphere, ensuring each child receives personalised care and feels valued. By exposing children to two languages from an early age, Raphael Nursery aims to enhance cognitive development, promote open-mindedness, and boost adaptability.
The curriculum prepares older children for a smooth transition to school, establishing a strong foundation in language, communication, and mathematics. The committed team provides high-quality care and education, supporting both children and parents through the early years journey.
Our ethos
Raphael Nursery integrates bilingual French immersion, the EYFS framework, and Montessori principles to foster independence, creativity, and a passion for learning. Their approach aims to enhance cognitive development and adaptability through early exposure to two languages, preparing children for school with a strong foundation. They value a family-oriented atmosphere with personalised care and support for children and parents.
What it's like
Children are safe and very happy at this nurturing and stimulating nursery. Staff greet all children with care and enthusiasm. This helps children to feel valued and secure. Staff support children to develop good social skills and play cooperatively with their friends.
Bilingual French EducationMontessori ApproachEYFS CurriculumFamily-oriented
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
Tax-Free Childcare
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
Food
Meals prepared onsite with fresh food, accommodating all dietary requirements. Purees prepared for babies, adapting to weaning stages.
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2015
Waitlist
Waitlist available once spaces are full.
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Raphael Nursery
Last inspected 13 March 2024 · Tracey Murphy
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 safe and very happy at this nurturing and stimulating nursery. Staff greet all children with care and enthusiasm. This helps children to feel valued and secure. Staff support children to develop good social skills and play cooperatively with their friends.
Inspector highlights
- The manager has a secure understanding of the skills she would like children to learn and the new curriculum is focused on children's success.
- Staff are good role models and engage well with children, supporting their learning through various activities.
- Children benefit from planned activities that build on what they already know and can do, and staff help children's physical development effectively.
- Children of all ages are good communicators, speaking clearly and engaging in meaningful conversations in both English and French.
- Staff develop strong relationships with parents, keeping them well informed and receiving high praise for their communication and professionalism.
Areas to develop
- 1improve staff's awareness of what is happening around them to target children's learning further
- 2support staff to recognise and make better use of opportunities to help younger children develop their independence skills.
Inspection #10316935 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents comment about the warm and caring atmosphere and how excited their children are to arrive each day.
Parents give high praise for staff's in-depth, face-to-face and online communication with them.
They are complimentary about the professionalism and support they receive and feel greatly involved in their children's education.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are bilingual, are confident speakers and achieve highly.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy climbing and balancing, either in the garden area or in the soft-play area, and they learn whether they are standing on "big" or "small" shapes. Children enjoy regular trips to the local park to build on and develop their physical skills further.
Parent Reviews of Raphael Nursery
5.0
(6)
Pauline Lemaire
6 months ago
Our son has been attending Raphael Montessori bilingual French nursery since he was under 1 year old, and we couldn’t be happier with the care he receives. The staff are warm, attentive, and genuinely invested in the wellbeing and development of each child. What we appreciate most is how well they listen — both to parents and to the children themselves. They always take the time to understand our son’s needs, communicate openly with us, and create a nurturing environment where he feels safe, happy, and confident. We’re extremely grateful for the wonderful team and highly recommend this nursery to any family looking for exceptional, caring, and professional early childhood education.
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Olga Petrova
8 months ago
We love Raphael nursery, all teachers love kids and know everybody’s names. Kids miss the nursery during vacation, want to come back and don’t cry after return. Highly recommended 💙💙
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Laura Lee-Rodgers
a year ago
Our two children had a brilliant time at Raphael and still talk about their teachers there, months after we left due to moving away. A lot of thought goes into bringing variety into the day, with lots of creative activities. All teachers were able to make strong personal connections with the children.
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Pierre Willerval
5 years ago
My experience of the nursery has been fantastic and we would definitely recommend it to others. Warm and loving care. Supportive and nurturing. Unique ethos and values. Very good mix of activities and supporting pedagogical materials It is a chance to have such a nursery around Clapham and Balham.
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Arthur Negre
7 years ago
Very nice nursery. It really cares about the développement of the children. It allows our child to speak French fluently and prepare him well for school. Really supportive of the Montessori method
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Raphael Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: January 2018
- March 2024Good
- May 2018Good
- January 2018Inadequate
Frequently asked about Raphael Nursery
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