1st Place at The Elephant

15 Hampton Street, London SE17 3AN
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7.8 7 Reviews
  • 1st Place at The Elephant, London
1st Place at The Elephant in London is a supportive early years setting for young children.

Children are given the chance to have fun in a safe setting while developing their skills.

Skilled staff ensure children can develop at their own pace.   

Healthy meals are provided.

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Care Provided by 1st Place at The Elephant

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Sara Noor (Early Education Manager)
  • Admission Criteria
    • None
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 30
  • Registered Charity Number
  • 1120124
  • Total Places for Children
  • 80
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 6 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for 1st Place at The Elephant

  • Starting from £180 per day for 3-4 year olds, £216 for 2 year olds and £238 per day for under 2's. Included in fees: Meals and snacks, wipes and reusable nappies, trips and outings (including travel).

  • These are base prices, please contact the nursery or visit their website for more information.
  • Parking

  • Street parking


1st Place at The Elephant Reviews (7)

7.8

1st Place at The Elephant has a Review Score of 7.8 (7.792) out of 10, based on 5 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time 1st Place at The Elephant has 7 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 6
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  • 1

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Review from L S (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I can't rant enough about how brilliant 1st place is. I am so happy that my daughter comes here, the staff are wonderful and go above and beyond for all the children. It's a magical and nutritional environment for them and I have seen my daughter blossom over the past couple of months of being here.
There
is continuous and well-documented feedback about my daughter's progress as well as plenty of pictures of her playing with other children. I always feel very much involved in her progress and development. The management is always present and takes the time to say hello and if we have any concerns we feel comfortable enough to address them. It's a family-orientated nursery and you don't often get this feeling in other settings so we are very pleased. Thank you to everyone for everything.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a lovely and detailed review. I have passed your feedback on to The Elephant team. We're very pleased to hear that you and your child are happy at 1st Place.


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Review from I N (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at 1st Place at the Elephant since it opened, having transferred from 1st Place Cambridge House when it closed.
We could not be happier with the nursery, our daughter is well cared for and stimulated. Their child-led approach gives the children agency over the activities and how
they play.
The staff are fantastic, patient, caring, and engaged with the children. Our daughter talks about them and knows them all as individuals as well as the people who look after her during the day.
The relatively small size of the nursery and its central location means they have easy access to transport and central London. They often go on trips to museums or shows and explore the city in small groups on foot too. They also have access to a Forest School which our daughter has loved, especially when she was taught how to safely use a saw to cut wood!
Thank you to all the staff, you do an amazing job!

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Review from Regan O (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I am a mother of a 15-month-old and I cannot speak highly enough of 1st Place. Without a doubt, this nursery deserves a 5-star rating in every aspect.
My son absolutely loves it there, and it warms my heart to see how much he has thrived in the 6 months he's been attending. His language, motor skills,
and social skills have all seen remarkable improvements, which I attribute to the nurturing environment provided by the dedicated staff.
Speaking of the staff, I cannot praise them enough. They are exceptional caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure his well-being and development. Their friendliness, love, and support have played a significant role in his growth and happiness at the nursery.
I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for their child. My son and I are grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories he is creating there.

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Review from Chris P (Father of Child) published on 6 June 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been really happy at 1st Place. Our children have been happy and come home buzzing about their days and all that they've done. The staff are very approachable and engaging and are interested in the children, their welfare, happiness, and development.
The nursery works hard to enrich the days
beyond the time at nursery going to museums, theatres, parks, forest school, cultural visits, and many more.
The children eat well and get good balanced meals and are taught to be independent and do more for themselves.
We've been really happy and have recommended the nursery to friends who've also moved their children there.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We appreciate the feedback and are over the moon to hear that you and your children are happy at 1st Place. I have passed the feedback on to our Early Education Manager at The Elephant. Best wishes.


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Review from Mary A (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 1.0 out of 5

The majority of the nursery staff that have contact with your child are great. My son has a lovely time with the staff he plays with. Unfortunately, the management and the handling of complaints are incredibly concerning. On that basis, I would not recommend the nursery if you care about your child’s
overall welfare and bodily autonomy and respect.

Reply from Nicola Howard, Director at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you for acknowledging how much fun your son is having at the nursery and how lovely the staff are. We are very happy to hear.
It is concerning that you feel management is not up to your expectations, it would be helpful if you would agree to have a face-to-face meeting, I understand you have not wanted to do this when offered before but if you really want to build a stronger relationship with the nursery this would be the best option.
1st Place always takes complaints seriously and this is why it was escalated to the highest level.
I understand that you are not happy with the outcome, but I am pleased that you feel safe to continue to use the service there.


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Review from Poppy T (Mother of Child) published on 8 May 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at the nursery since she was a baby, and is currently in the pre-school room. We have been overjoyed at the level of care and compassion she has received through each level of the nursery. The food menus are diverse, the rooms are set-out with lots of different areas such as a
reading corner, a building area and an I.C.T area. It's organised in a very thoughtful way, and the rooms are wonderfully light and welcoming. The outside play areas are kept well. There is very little staff turnover as it's a family-run business and we feel like we know the staff well, and they are all wonderfully kind and caring. We're very happy with her progress at the nursery, they clearly take the curriculum very seriously and we see improvements all the time.

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Review from Alessia A (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2015
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to the Elephant and Castle Nursery for 2 years. She just turned three and I only have good things to say. The staff are great, they care for the children and teach them well. Everybody is helpful and flexible and have made our family life so much easier.
My daughter is happy
to go there, and I am happy she is in good hands.
I cannot recommend this nursery enough.

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Current Review Score: 7.8 (7.792)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 7.8 (7.792) out of 10 for 1st Place at The Elephant is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.2 out of 5 from 5 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.6 out of 5 from 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.167 for 1st Place at The Elephant is calculated as follows: ( (42 Excellents x 5) + (6 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) + (10 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 60 Ratings = 4.167

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 3.625 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for 1st Place at The Elephant is based on 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.375

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 80 number of registered child places is 16. 4 Positive Reviews ÷ 16 = 0.25

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

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Meet the Team (1)

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Sara Noor

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2025

Sara has worked for 1st Place for over 18 years and her career in early childhood and education spans over 24 years including day care and children centres.


Inspired by the concepts of intrinsic learning, early attachment, and child development, Sara completed a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Studies. She enjoys adopting a creative approach to early learning and is passionate about 1st Place’s Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy.


Frequently Asked Questions about 1st Place at The Elephant

What is the Age Range of Children that 1st Place at The Elephant accepts?

1st Place at The Elephant accepts Children aged from 0 years 6 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is 1st Place at The Elephant Open?

1st Place at The Elephant is open: Monday 08:00-18:00, Tuesday 08:00-18:00, Wednesday 08:00-18:00, Thursday 08:00-18:00, Friday 08:00-18:00.

How many Children does 1st Place at The Elephant have capacity for?

1st Place at The Elephant has capacity for a total of 80 Children.

How far is 1st Place at The Elephant to the centre of London?

2.2 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact 1st Place at The Elephant to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. 1st Place at The Elephant has an Enhanced Service – more info.