Submit a Review for Elm Park Nursery
90 Clarence Avenue, London, SW4 8JR
View Full Details of Elm Park NurseryLatest Reviews for Elm Park Nursery
17 March 2025
We wanted to share our experience to help other parents.After carefully choosing this nursery, we were excited for our son to start. However, a month before, we saw recent reviews that raised concerns.We considered withdrawing but spoke with the management team first.They reassured us that while incidents had been reported to Ofsted, they explained how they were addressing them.Their response felt sincere, so we decided to proceed. Now, 2 months in, we're so glad we stayed. The staff is caring, professional, and genuinely invested in the children's well-being. Our son settled quickly and happily runs into the nursery. Communication is excellent, safety and staff-to-child ratio have improved, and the nursery feels well-maintained. The balance between freedom and structure is just right, providing gentle yet firm guidance and support. The outdoor space is incredible-our son loves the giant garden. Huge thanks to the new management team for their hard work, and to one staff member in particular- she is amazing!
21 November 2024
A serious safeguarding issue occurred a few months ago, resulting in a staff member being fired and being reported to the police. Some additional staff were let go, possibly in relation to this or maybe not, I have no idea because nothing has been communicated to me around the incident. Despite this serious occurrence, at the time of writing (11th November 2024), there is no permanent manager. There is a rota of 5 different people, including the area manager and the outgoing previous manager, (who has not been in the position for 6 months). This was a lovely nursery, it still has a few remaining excellent staff members but there appears to be no leadership, since a previous manager left just over a year ago. You have to wonder if the exodus of staff and poor leadership stems from the greed of owner Oakley Capital. Is this an example of a greedy private equity fund in the background, degrading standards to make more money.
10 September 2024
We had to take our 2-year-old out of Elm Park following an investigation which found that a staff member in his class was mishandling the children. The investigation was launched because of obvious adult hand marks on one child. Following further review of CCTV, various examples of mishandling children were found. The staff member had been working there for at least 3 years. The staff member was dismissed, however, the nursery did not take appropriate measures to regain our trust. Regardless of this horrific incident, staffing and security issues remained and we didn't feel that our child's well-being was at the forefront. What is also shocking is that we were raising concerns for six months and no one listened to us. Even calls to the safeguarding lead were not taken seriously. We are absolutely traumatised by this incident and the poor management of the situation and nursery by Bright Stars Nursery Group Ltd. We hope things will improve for the nursery, but parents deserve to know what happened.
11 June 2024
Our toddler started here in February 2024 but we pulled her out after 3 months as she was anxious and aggressive after attending and we couldn't come to an understanding of why this was or a plan to address it with staff. This is not our first nursery experience and elsewhere we received personalised information about our children and their development. At Elm Park, they rely heavily on an app which provides general sporadic information (less than our previous nursery app too) but it was hard to find out what our daughter had actually been up to during the day and how she was going. Regular emails that are generic in nature and important info like the fact the nursery will be undergoing renovations for 4 months were communicated the week before. Over the course of the time she attended, they stopped sending out the learning plans for the week and the monthly menu isn't always adhered to - there is quite a bit of baked beans and fish fingers/cakes.
29 January 2024
Our child has been going to Elm Park Nursery since she was 10 months old, I have to say I visited quite a few nurseries before deciding on Elm Park, however, no other nurseries in the area really compared to the environment I encountered here. My daughter is now almost 3 years old and the nursery staff here that have supported her through the transition of the rooms and cared for her are absolutely amazing! All children are cared for with so much love and attention, it never feels like she is just one of many, it always feels like the key workers pay special attention to all the children under their care and you can really feel this in the community of parents and nursery staff. We now have another on the way and despite having moved further away since our daughter started here, we won't hesitate in sending our next child here. It is truly a gem in the local neighbourhood and would recommend it to anyone looking for a nursery to send their child to.
30 November 2023
I have two young children who attend this nurturing, safe and immensely friendly nursery, both of whom joined at 9 months and have been settled and happy since their early weeks there. The head and deputy have fostered an excellent team of teaching and caring staff, all of whom are diligent, affable, and attentive. Every member of staff will know the name of every child in the nursery, deepening the already apparent sense of community. I'm regularly impressed by the focus given to my children on their individual developmental needs, which is reflected in the carefully tailored daily teacher feedback. Careful planning is dedicated to the daily activities and the addition of music on Wednesdays supplements that range of activity, and is always a highlight for my children. The garden was a huge appeal for us, and toddlers and babies alike will spend at least some time outside every day.
29 November 2023
A really lovely nursery. I dreaded my son starting nursery for about 11 months before he started (he was 11 months old) but his key worker was so experienced and caring, she did an amazing job. They now have a lovely bond and he has come on leaps and bounds since starting. I am kept well updated as to what activities he has been up to and overall feel very lucky that we picked Elm Park Nursery.
28 November 2023
I couldn’t recommend Elm Park highly enough. I have two children attending and their individual needs have been catered for since they joined and both are thriving in the caring, supportive and learning environment that has been thoughtfully fostered. The facilities and garden are fantastic. They go to the extra effort of including parents in events such as summer sports day, and Christmas concerts which is lovely etc. They are also very flexible in terms of the days children attend. Communication is brilliant and it is a very family-oriented nursery. I feel like we are part of the Elm Park ‘community’.
13 November 2023
Would very happily recommend Elm Park. Our daughter had a wonderful time there and was very happy. The large garden space is a huge benefit and she spent many happy afternoons out there. The Montessori approach was very obvious and we saw visible changes in her confidence and happiness. The teachers were always attentive and friendly and kept us up to date with how she was progressing. We were very happy with our choice of Elm Park.
20 December 2022
My 1-year-old son started at Elm Park Nursery at the beginning of November. I could not speak more highly of the staff who take care of him on a daily basis. They are caring and kind, and plan the days to be full of learning and stimulating activities. The food is very nutritious and varied, and we are just so happy with the nursery. We really feel that we could not have picked somewhere better.
07 December 2022
Overall we've been very pleased since our son started at Elm Park earlier this year. The change in management has made a huge difference and communication is so much better and the Head always responds to feedback. The garden is a huge plus and the whole nursery has a home from home feel which is why we chose it. Not sure how strong the Montessori approach is, it would be good to get a better understanding of this. Some of the rooms are smaller and a bit more dated than others so could do with upgrading. All the staff are so welcoming and our son has loved his time there so far.
29 November 2022
Amazing nursery. Has expanded my son's vocabulary and installed lovely morals/values. Very efficient and welcoming nursery with lovely staff. My son has loved all his key workers! Would definitely recommend.
24 November 2022
I am happy I have chosen Elm Park Nursery for my son. Two staff members, in particular, are exceptional in how they look after young babies. They are very attentive, very sweet and you can tell they love their job! They always keep me updated with what my son does during the day (sleeping, eating, playing etc). They help him with developing new skills and follow his development very well. I am also happy with the management, they always reply promptly to my emails and they send information every week about activities and menus. The space is clean and there is a nice garden for babies to enjoy outside activities.
18 November 2022
I would highly recommend this nursery. The staff are very caring and friendly and patient and know what they're doing. The children learn something new every day and they play outside in the fresh air every day. Thank you.
18 November 2022
I currently have my son enrolled at Elm Park with his sister starting in January. I'm really pleased with the care and development that he has received since starting over six months ago. He has made some lovely friends and really enjoys the large garden to run around. The staff are great and really care about the children. The structured play really helps prepare them for school and develop their minds.
18 November 2022
Our son is so happy at Elm Park and has developed strong bonds with the staff as well as good friendships with his peers in upper school. The staff clearly care for the children very much and it is lovely to see those relationships. We like the child-led approach but also the variety of activities on offer, with regular updates and photos via the app. The garden is just lovely, much bigger than any others I've seen in the area and the children spend a lot of time outside which for me is a huge plus. It has also been great for parents to have had the opportunity to come in and spend time with the children during their day - the latest on Halloween when we were able to attend the setting and get involved in various activities. Generally very happy with our choice and feel the staff have contributed to the happiness and confidence of son during his time there. A lovely platform to prepare them for school years.
17 November 2022
Both myself and my husband are very happy with Elm Park and cannot recommend it enough. Our daughter runs in every morning with a smile on her face and returns the same way when we pick her up in the evenings. What more could you want!
17 November 2022
Elm Park Nursery has provided a wonderful experience for our son, who began when he was 9 months old. Staff are friendly and welcoming and keep us informed daily with our son's wellbeing and activities. Parents are contacted immediately in the event of accidents (bumps, falls etc) and staff are creative in their choice of activities. The settling-in process was gradual and gentle, and we were given opportunities to ask questions and offer feedback. Very happy to recommend.
17 November 2022
My child has progressed from the baby suite (Bonsai, Sapling and Acorn rooms) over the course of 2022 and has been very well looked after by his care workers. They were excellent. He has just moved into Lower School (2 years+) and he seems to be happy and well-adjusted thanks to the team.
17 November 2022
Elm Park Nursery feels like family, with the love and care of the staff second to none. Outside facilities are excellent (what drew us in when we discovered it!) and kids get to spend a lot of time outdoors. Variety of activities, nice food, and a really warm welcome with smiling faces, and special touches like drinking water and a fruit bowl at the entrance. The head of the nursery is very visible, supports in the classrooms, responsive to parents and listens to staff. Very happy with this choice for our children!
Latest Reviews for Elm Park Nursery
17 March 2025
We wanted to share our experience to help other parents.After carefully choosing this nursery, we were excited for our son to start. However, a month before, we saw recent reviews that raised concerns.We considered withdrawing but spoke with the management team first.They reassured us that while incidents had been reported to Ofsted, they explained how they were addressing them.Their response felt sincere, so we decided to proceed. Now, 2 months in, we're so glad we stayed. The staff is caring, professional, and genuinely invested in the children's well-being. Our son settled quickly and happily runs into the nursery. Communication is excellent, safety and staff-to-child ratio have improved, and the nursery feels well-maintained. The balance between freedom and structure is just right, providing gentle yet firm guidance and support. The outdoor space is incredible-our son loves the giant garden. Huge thanks to the new management team for their hard work, and to one staff member in particular- she is amazing!
21 November 2024
A serious safeguarding issue occurred a few months ago, resulting in a staff member being fired and being reported to the police. Some additional staff were let go, possibly in relation to this or maybe not, I have no idea because nothing has been communicated to me around the incident. Despite this serious occurrence, at the time of writing (11th November 2024), there is no permanent manager. There is a rota of 5 different people, including the area manager and the outgoing previous manager, (who has not been in the position for 6 months). This was a lovely nursery, it still has a few remaining excellent staff members but there appears to be no leadership, since a previous manager left just over a year ago. You have to wonder if the exodus of staff and poor leadership stems from the greed of owner Oakley Capital. Is this an example of a greedy private equity fund in the background, degrading standards to make more money.
10 September 2024
We had to take our 2-year-old out of Elm Park following an investigation which found that a staff member in his class was mishandling the children. The investigation was launched because of obvious adult hand marks on one child. Following further review of CCTV, various examples of mishandling children were found. The staff member had been working there for at least 3 years. The staff member was dismissed, however, the nursery did not take appropriate measures to regain our trust. Regardless of this horrific incident, staffing and security issues remained and we didn't feel that our child's well-being was at the forefront. What is also shocking is that we were raising concerns for six months and no one listened to us. Even calls to the safeguarding lead were not taken seriously. We are absolutely traumatised by this incident and the poor management of the situation and nursery by Bright Stars Nursery Group Ltd. We hope things will improve for the nursery, but parents deserve to know what happened.
11 June 2024
Our toddler started here in February 2024 but we pulled her out after 3 months as she was anxious and aggressive after attending and we couldn't come to an understanding of why this was or a plan to address it with staff. This is not our first nursery experience and elsewhere we received personalised information about our children and their development. At Elm Park, they rely heavily on an app which provides general sporadic information (less than our previous nursery app too) but it was hard to find out what our daughter had actually been up to during the day and how she was going. Regular emails that are generic in nature and important info like the fact the nursery will be undergoing renovations for 4 months were communicated the week before. Over the course of the time she attended, they stopped sending out the learning plans for the week and the monthly menu isn't always adhered to - there is quite a bit of baked beans and fish fingers/cakes.
29 January 2024
Our child has been going to Elm Park Nursery since she was 10 months old, I have to say I visited quite a few nurseries before deciding on Elm Park, however, no other nurseries in the area really compared to the environment I encountered here. My daughter is now almost 3 years old and the nursery staff here that have supported her through the transition of the rooms and cared for her are absolutely amazing! All children are cared for with so much love and attention, it never feels like she is just one of many, it always feels like the key workers pay special attention to all the children under their care and you can really feel this in the community of parents and nursery staff. We now have another on the way and despite having moved further away since our daughter started here, we won't hesitate in sending our next child here. It is truly a gem in the local neighbourhood and would recommend it to anyone looking for a nursery to send their child to.
30 November 2023
I have two young children who attend this nurturing, safe and immensely friendly nursery, both of whom joined at 9 months and have been settled and happy since their early weeks there. The head and deputy have fostered an excellent team of teaching and caring staff, all of whom are diligent, affable, and attentive. Every member of staff will know the name of every child in the nursery, deepening the already apparent sense of community. I'm regularly impressed by the focus given to my children on their individual developmental needs, which is reflected in the carefully tailored daily teacher feedback. Careful planning is dedicated to the daily activities and the addition of music on Wednesdays supplements that range of activity, and is always a highlight for my children. The garden was a huge appeal for us, and toddlers and babies alike will spend at least some time outside every day.
29 November 2023
A really lovely nursery. I dreaded my son starting nursery for about 11 months before he started (he was 11 months old) but his key worker was so experienced and caring, she did an amazing job. They now have a lovely bond and he has come on leaps and bounds since starting. I am kept well updated as to what activities he has been up to and overall feel very lucky that we picked Elm Park Nursery.
28 November 2023
I couldn’t recommend Elm Park highly enough. I have two children attending and their individual needs have been catered for since they joined and both are thriving in the caring, supportive and learning environment that has been thoughtfully fostered. The facilities and garden are fantastic. They go to the extra effort of including parents in events such as summer sports day, and Christmas concerts which is lovely etc. They are also very flexible in terms of the days children attend. Communication is brilliant and it is a very family-oriented nursery. I feel like we are part of the Elm Park ‘community’.
13 November 2023
Would very happily recommend Elm Park. Our daughter had a wonderful time there and was very happy. The large garden space is a huge benefit and she spent many happy afternoons out there. The Montessori approach was very obvious and we saw visible changes in her confidence and happiness. The teachers were always attentive and friendly and kept us up to date with how she was progressing. We were very happy with our choice of Elm Park.
20 December 2022
My 1-year-old son started at Elm Park Nursery at the beginning of November. I could not speak more highly of the staff who take care of him on a daily basis. They are caring and kind, and plan the days to be full of learning and stimulating activities. The food is very nutritious and varied, and we are just so happy with the nursery. We really feel that we could not have picked somewhere better.
07 December 2022
Overall we've been very pleased since our son started at Elm Park earlier this year. The change in management has made a huge difference and communication is so much better and the Head always responds to feedback. The garden is a huge plus and the whole nursery has a home from home feel which is why we chose it. Not sure how strong the Montessori approach is, it would be good to get a better understanding of this. Some of the rooms are smaller and a bit more dated than others so could do with upgrading. All the staff are so welcoming and our son has loved his time there so far.
29 November 2022
Amazing nursery. Has expanded my son's vocabulary and installed lovely morals/values. Very efficient and welcoming nursery with lovely staff. My son has loved all his key workers! Would definitely recommend.
24 November 2022
I am happy I have chosen Elm Park Nursery for my son. Two staff members, in particular, are exceptional in how they look after young babies. They are very attentive, very sweet and you can tell they love their job! They always keep me updated with what my son does during the day (sleeping, eating, playing etc). They help him with developing new skills and follow his development very well. I am also happy with the management, they always reply promptly to my emails and they send information every week about activities and menus. The space is clean and there is a nice garden for babies to enjoy outside activities.
18 November 2022
I would highly recommend this nursery. The staff are very caring and friendly and patient and know what they're doing. The children learn something new every day and they play outside in the fresh air every day. Thank you.
18 November 2022
I currently have my son enrolled at Elm Park with his sister starting in January. I'm really pleased with the care and development that he has received since starting over six months ago. He has made some lovely friends and really enjoys the large garden to run around. The staff are great and really care about the children. The structured play really helps prepare them for school and develop their minds.
18 November 2022
Our son is so happy at Elm Park and has developed strong bonds with the staff as well as good friendships with his peers in upper school. The staff clearly care for the children very much and it is lovely to see those relationships. We like the child-led approach but also the variety of activities on offer, with regular updates and photos via the app. The garden is just lovely, much bigger than any others I've seen in the area and the children spend a lot of time outside which for me is a huge plus. It has also been great for parents to have had the opportunity to come in and spend time with the children during their day - the latest on Halloween when we were able to attend the setting and get involved in various activities. Generally very happy with our choice and feel the staff have contributed to the happiness and confidence of son during his time there. A lovely platform to prepare them for school years.
17 November 2022
Both myself and my husband are very happy with Elm Park and cannot recommend it enough. Our daughter runs in every morning with a smile on her face and returns the same way when we pick her up in the evenings. What more could you want!
17 November 2022
Elm Park Nursery has provided a wonderful experience for our son, who began when he was 9 months old. Staff are friendly and welcoming and keep us informed daily with our son's wellbeing and activities. Parents are contacted immediately in the event of accidents (bumps, falls etc) and staff are creative in their choice of activities. The settling-in process was gradual and gentle, and we were given opportunities to ask questions and offer feedback. Very happy to recommend.
17 November 2022
My child has progressed from the baby suite (Bonsai, Sapling and Acorn rooms) over the course of 2022 and has been very well looked after by his care workers. They were excellent. He has just moved into Lower School (2 years+) and he seems to be happy and well-adjusted thanks to the team.
17 November 2022
Elm Park Nursery feels like family, with the love and care of the staff second to none. Outside facilities are excellent (what drew us in when we discovered it!) and kids get to spend a lot of time outdoors. Variety of activities, nice food, and a really warm welcome with smiling faces, and special touches like drinking water and a fruit bowl at the entrance. The head of the nursery is very visible, supports in the classrooms, responsive to parents and listens to staff. Very happy with this choice for our children!