Abbey Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in London for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2012, with 20 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Merton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Merton from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SW19 2JYWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 2 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy as they play with their friends at this pre-school. They enjoy regular outings to the local park, library, and farm. Children are learning about where they live. They take the bus and walk to local places of interest, gaining confidence as they explore their local community. Children feel a sense of belonging as they understand their place in the world. They have high levels of self-esteem and are beginning to understand how things work.
Children behave well and learn to keep themselves safe. They hold hands with staff as they cross the road and look out for traffic. They take walks by the river and pass by cyclists and pedestrians safely. Children understand that they need to listen to the staff. They try hard to understand what they need to do and follow instructions.
Children's language development is supported well, including support for the high proportion of children that speak English as an additional language. At the farm, children learn about the animals they see. They name the animals and explore the different noises they make. Children begin to use longer sentences with their new words. They can answer questions about what they can see. They are learning to express themselves well.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop teaching skills further, especially in relation to strategies to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so that all children achieve the best possible outcomes - strengthen opportunities for all children to develop their independence skills.
- 2 March 2023Good
- 6 July 2017Good
- 8 March 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Abbey Pre-School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.