SMART Southfields

ruth habel

4 years ago

My 4 year old daughter has been at Smart since she was 13 months old, and has thrived in its loving, nurturing and fun environment. When she first started, it was a hard time for me as a parent to leave her and go back to work, but I was comforted by the kindness of the staff and the regular updates I was provided with throughout the day. As my daughter has moved up through the nursery, she has continued to benefit from the excellent care that the nursery provides. I am often amazed at how much she learns at nursery, and she absolutely loves going every day. The food is really good – my daughter loves it so much that I’ve asked the chef for her recipes! The teaching staff are motivated, always smiling and always happy to see the children. You get the sense that they really care for the little ones. The nursery really makes an effort to make every child feel included and valued. My daughter and I will be very sad when she has to leave!

Amjid Salam

4 years ago

We have been using smart Preschools for near on 8 years as our first two children went through and now our third is there. All three children looked forward to going in near enough every day and the names of so many brilliant teachers and staff litter my brain as I type this All three children ate far better there than ever they did at home, so good is it that many parents have been trying to convince head cook Elaine to leak her secrets or at least publish a book. There is a strong push for the children to get as much fresh air as possible so there are three outside spaces at the nursery itself as well as Coronation gardens a short and very safe walk away directly down the same road Both our elder boys left the nursery with some reading ability some writing ability and a good sense of letters and numbers setting them up well for entry into primary school allowing them to concentrate more on making friends than struggling with the lessons We receive updates throughout the day through their apps along with many a picture and writeup of the important bits, nappies food and sleep. We also get regular updates, again through the app, of milestones and expectations of how our child is doing as they grow through the nursery We feel really lucky that we have had the Nursery as a long standing friend and place for our children to flourish

Estelle Okumura

8 years ago

Our son attended Jenniflowers for 7 months this year and I can only recommend this setting. He joined shortly after the ownership & management changed and we have seen a huge amount of positive changes in this nursery. The staff are dedicated and kind and form real bonds with the children in their care. A few month ago, a chef was hired and the children now benefit from hot meals which nutritious, healthy and fresh. No chicken nuggets here! The management is flexible and worked with us on finding the right length of session for our child (morning + lunch). They also happily and seamlessly extended his hours when I had to attend a course. The whole team was very caring when one of our loved ones was taken seriously ill and still enquire as to their health when I see the team. This illustrates their genuine interest in the children's lives. The headteacher for the young toddlers room was also very supportive when discipline issues like hitting and pushing cropped up and suggested gentle methods to try at home. Naps also happen in a gentle manner and those children who need to be patted to sleep are. The staff from the older toddlers room are also happily involved with the younger children and know the children by name. The equipment upgrade since Spring 2017 has been amazing and lets the children learn & play better and it is also better for the staff. The gardens are not messy and let children discover their environment in a safe & fun manner. In November, the time came for our son to join the older toddler's room and he has now moved on to their sister setting Wimbledon Hill Preschool (SMART schooling) because it is closer to our home and he is equally happy there and still gets the lovely hot meals from the amazing chef.

Ellie Forde

3 years ago

SMART is a lovely nursery based in Southfields. Our daughter went to this nursery from 11 months to 28 months and she seemed happy. The staff are warm and welcoming and really take care of the children. I was just upset by how they raised concerns over our daughters speech and other development. While well intentioned, they decided to do an observation on her without raising concerns with us or asking our permission prior to it being done. This meant we were just asked to come in and they delivered their concerns in what I felt was not the best way. So in that moment, we felt blinded sided and upset about it. I really think they could have handled it more sensitively, including the discussion itself - particularly with first time parents. That said, a few months have passed, our daughter is in a new nursery (due to a house move, not the above), doing well and I would still advocate for this nursery. I just ask they were have a more collaborative discussion with parents and raise concerns earlier before doing any kind of observations (which of course they are in their right to do) and think about how it is delivered to the parents.

louise porter

4 years ago

This is an excellent place. My family has been attending this nursery for over 3 years and are very happy. The staff are committed and passionate about what they do, and it shows in the way children run through the door of the nursery every morning. A wholesome, educational, and caring environment, Smart has got it right.