1st Place Nursery Open Morning

Explore our nursery 1st Place at The Elephant. Take part in activities, meet our Early Educators and find out about nursery life.

1 st Place welcome's you to explore our nursery in Elephant and Castle.

Our nurseries deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and provide a unique learning experience inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach.

Our spacious nursery at The Elephant has an outdoor play area, and 3 large rooms allocated to baby, toddler and pre-schoolers. We're very lucky to be close to Elephant Park and Burgess Park for regaular outings and Forest Shcool sessions. Our central location offers us a broad range of activities for outings, such as children's theatre, museums and exhibitions.

Come along and find out more about nursery life and what makes 1st Place so special!

We're accepting applications for term time and full time places to start between September 2025 - 2026. From age 6 months.

A Little About Us...

Investing in Community

1st Place is a registered charity. This means any surplus funds are reinvested into our nurseries and community services which support families in Southwark, through our Children & Family Hub, including family support services, health, play learning sessions and free courses for parents and carers.

Strong Learning & Development Focus

• Play-based learning rooted in child-led exploration

• Guided by the EYFS and the Reggio Emilia approach

• Individual progress is carefully tracked and shared with families

Engaging Spaces & Resources

• Bright, open environments with natural light and sensory-rich areas

• Outdoor play areas including a large sand play space at Chumleigh Gardens, accessible by both nurseries

• Regular outings to museums, farms, theatres, and parks

• Access to allotments where children can grow their own fruit and vegetables

• Dedicated Art Studio with a trained Atelierista, working collaboratively with our early education team to extend learning through creative projects

Forest School

We run regular Forest School sessions, led by trained level 3 Forest School Leaders. Activities include:

• Nature and environmental exploration

• Using forest school hand tools

• Insect/plant discovery and identification

• Natural art and crafts

• Outdoor cooking

Clear, Honest Pricing

• Transparent fees – no hidden charges

• Funded 15/30-hour places available

• All meals, snacks, outings, and reusable nappies included in fees

Communication

We believe strong partnerships with parents/carers are key:

• Daily updates via the Blossom app, including activities, meals, and care

• Weekly newsletters

• Regular progress meetings

• Open door policy – in-person or phone appointments can be arranged anytime with your child’s key person or our Early Education managers

• Ongoing project documentation to show how children’s ideas grow over time

Our Team

Our experienced and passionate team bring a wide range of skills and knowledge to the nursery. We have high staff retention; a large number of our colleagues have been with us for many years and have progressed their career while working at 1st Place by undertaking studies in higher and further education. All our team have ongoing support and regular training and the opportunity to study while they work.

If you have any questions, please email TheElephant@1stplace.uk.com

Find out more about our nurseries here: https://www.1stplace.uk.com/nurseries-find-out-more

Please book a ticket for yourself, any other adults attending with you and your children if they are attending. Thank you!