Opening hours
8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday
RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School
Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2024)
Number of places
40 places
Age range
1–2 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2024
Local authority
Greenwich
About this day nursery
RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School offers a unique childcare experience with music at its core, believing in the profound impact of early musical education on a child's intellectual, spiritual, and emotional development. Catering to children aged 3 months to 5 years, RIMU integrates a wide array of peripatetic classes into its daily curriculum, all included in the fees.
These classes encompass music, singing, ballet, street dance, and gymnastics, aiming to enhance language, communication, health, safety, and well-being. Beyond its strong musical focus, RIMU also provides a full-time Forest School programme, allowing children to engage with nature and foster holistic growth.
With branches in Lee (King's Church) and Blackheath (Sunfields Methodist Church and Elsie Marshall Memorial Hall), RIMU offers over 130 places across its multiple locations. The nursery encourages prospective families to visit and learn more about its routines and activities.
Our ethos
We believe that every child should have the earliest possible exposure to a musical education. The impact of music on a young child can not be underestimated and the huge benefits of early exposure can be seen for many years to come. Exposure to music helps to balance a child intellectually, spiritually and emotionally.
What it's like
Leaders and staff share their passion to promote children's creativity through learning experiences, such as music, dance and drama. Staff support individual children well to build confidence to participate in these activities. Children learn to move their bodies to music. Staff are caring and friendly in their interactions with children. The children are happy to see the staff on arrival and settle quickly with reassurance from their key person.
Music-focused curriculumForest School programmeAges 3 months to 5 yearsMultiple locations in South East London
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 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.
Request pricing →Key facts
Term time / All Year
All Year
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School
Last inspected 8 February 2024 · Geetha Ramesh
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Leaders and staff share their passion to promote children's creativity through learning experiences, such as music, dance and drama. Staff support individual children well to build confidence to participate in these activities. Children learn to move their bodies to music. Staff are caring and friendly in their interactions with children. The children are happy to see the staff on arrival and settle quickly with reassurance from their key person.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders and managers reflect well on their practice and have improved the quality of the provision since the previous inspection.
- Staff promote children's understanding of hygiene practices and support children's independence during these routines.
- Staff assess children's progress effectively to identify areas in which individual children need additional support and work closely with professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Children who speak English as an additional language settle well and build on their communication skills, with some staff having had training to use signs and gestures.
- Staff stimulate children's curiosity to learn about living beings and provide opportunities for children to learn about different cultures and traditions.
Areas to develop
- 1improve the implementation of planning to consistently enhance opportunities for children to achieve the intended aims, particularly with regards to some group activities
- 2strengthen opportunities for children to explore a wider range of physical experiences that offer them more challenge, suitable for their ages and stages of development.
Inspection #10283150 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff assess children's progress effectively to identify areas in which individual children need additional support. They share information effectively with parents and work closely with professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.
Outdoor space
Staff provide regular opportunities for children to play outdoors. They plan weekly outings for children to local amenities, such as the library and the 'duck pond'. However, staff have not considered ways to enhance children's motivation to engage in physical experiences, such as climbing, that offer them more challenge.
Parent Reviews of RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School
4.5
(23)
Alison Buchanan
2 years ago
As a seasoned professional musician with over 40 years experience I am heartened to encounter schools like RIMU. Government cuts always misguidedly target music first not realizing the importance of music in education, and how it impacts all other classes, developing confidence, character and discipline. Bravo RIMU for providing these things in a child’s early learning. Not only the music but the French, RIMU offers more than most nurseries and I can not recommend RIMU more highly. Alison Buchanan Artistic Director Pegasus Opera Company
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Samantha Eavis
2 years ago
RIMU are an excellent nursery. They have a great variety of activities for the children and the Forest School is amazing, teaching the children about nature. My granddaughter really enjoys the music and dance classes and always shows me her latest moves.
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Eva English
a year ago
Amazing nursery! The staff is lovely & caring, and offers loads of various activities for the kiddos. Can't recommend enough RIMU!
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Kimberley Akester
2 years ago
As a professional musician and educator of more than 30 years, I am so encouraged to come across a school such as RIMU. I cannot stress enough the importance of music in education, and how it impacts every aspect of a child's life and development. I hold RIMU in high regard for providing this, within a warm and welcoming environment, as well as offering other language and life skills as part of it's early learning programme. Bravo RIMU!
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Sam Harper
2 years ago
I'm thrilled with RIMU Music Day Nursery! The staff are wonderful, my child is always happy, and the constant updates and observations on Famly are a great touch. Highly recommended!
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2024
Date: June 2017
- February 2024Good
- February 2023Requires improvement
- June 2017Outstanding
Frequently asked about RIMU Music Day Nursery & Forest School
About the setting
RIMU Nursery re-registered in 2015. The nursery operates from a Methodist Church premises in Blackheath, in the London Borough of Greenwich. The nursery is open from 8am until 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. There are eight members of staff who work with the children, including the manager. Of these, one member of staff holds a childcare qualification at level 4, four staff hold childcare qualifications at level 3, two hold a relevant childcare qualification at level 2 and one member of staff is unqualified. The nursery receives funding for the provision of free early education for children aged two years.
- URN
- EY486160
- Registered person
- RIMU Music Education Services Limited
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
- Previous rating
- Requires improvement
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