345 Nursery School Balham

"My youngest has just finished his time at nursery, ready to move up into Reception, and I can only say that we will all miss Oaktree hugely. There are so many amazing things to say about Oaktree and I agree wholeheartedly with every other review posted here, but what stands out to me most, above all of the rest of the wonderful things they do, is the individual relationships they have with the children. All three of my (very different!) children have been at Oaktree, and I can confidently say that the staff know them as well as I do. They know their likes and dislikes, they know how to encourage them to try new things, they know how to prepare them, as individuals, for school. It's definitely NOT a one-size-fits-all approach. The staff understand exactly what makes each child tick and use that knowledge to make sure they get the absolute most out of their time at nursery, and are happy, confident and prepared to start big school. Each of my children has bounded in to nursery and bounced out again with a beam on their face, day after day, and if that's not a top rated recommendation, I don't know what is!"

"My two children attended Oaktree Nursery and we couldn't have been happier with the care and education they were provided with. It is a warm, friendly place with imaginative and energetic staff. Every topic was approached with gusto and both children left Oaktree thoroughly prepared for school both socially and in terms of their educational development. Oaktree was a community and as a family we are only sorry that we had to leave when our children were too old. Thank you Oaktree. You are fantastic!"

"My eldest has just left Oaktree and my youngest has just started and both their experiences at Oaktree have been nothing but positive. We moved to Oaktree from another nursery that we weren’t happy with and it was such a great decision, I only wish we’d done it sooner! The staff are all so incredibly kind, enthusiastic and talented and the range of activities they offer the children is amazing and so creative. Our children have and are thriving there and I genuinely couldn’t wish for a better nursery and pre-school experience for them. As other reviewers said, they deserve 10 stars as it such an outstanding and happy place!"

"If I could give 10 stars I would. In an area full of childcare provision for young children, Oaktree Nursery School stands out a mile. It is owned and run by staff who are clearly driven by engaging the children in a fun, varied and always interesting learning experience. There is flexibility in the structure to pursue the children's particular interests. It is not a one size fits all approach. Staff, many who are very long standing are caring, clearly enjoy their jobs and get the best out of the children. There is frequent and excellent quality communication between the nursery and parents, making us all feel part of the children's experience. I feel Oaktree has struck the right balance between child led play and more focused adult led activities which prepare the children for school. A wide range of learning tools and techniques are used, including Montessori. There is a great focus on helping the children develop their independence which pays dividends when they hit reception! My eldest had an absolute ball at Oaktree and she left well prepared for school. My youngest cant wait to go and see her friends and teachers each day and is always excited to tell me what she has been doing, making pasta sauce or doing yoga! I will always be grateful to all the staff at Oaktree for giving my children such a fun and exciting start to their learning journey."

"I cannot recommend Oaktree highly enough. I couldn’t have hoped for a better introduction to the world of schooling for both my daughters. Oaktree is committed to working with parents to produce well-rounded, happy, inquisitive and settled children ready to take the next steps of their learning journey with enthusiasm. I feel that the nursery has done a fantastic job of getting my children ready for primary school, not just by providing them with a solid foundation in the early years curriculum but also by focusing on their personal and social development. I love the focus on “fun” in everything that they do at Oaktree – amazingly the children think they have been playing the whole time and come out learning loads. There are so many creative, play and learning opportunities available from sport, to Spanish to yoga and science that there is something to keep every child busy. Oaktree strives to work in partnership with the parent body and over the years has taken on many parent suggestions to improve facilities and the use of technology to enhance the experience of the children and parents. I have loved being able to access Tapestry to see what Lilah was doing every day at nursery and was impressed with the level of detail provided by the staff members. Oaktree is a truly local nursery. Shape hunts around the neighbourhood, number hunting at the local grocery store, trips to the Fire Station, performances for the local pensioners, all help instil a lovely sense of community in the children at a very young age. Finally, what can I say about the Oaktree staff members. Both my girls developed strong bonds with their teachers that have persisted long after their time at Oaktree. I love the fact that both co-owners of the nursery, Jill and Katka, are deeply involved in the day to day running of the nursery and interact with and get to know every child. My elder daughter thrived in the warm and nurturing environment provided by her teacher Ms .Lee and Lilah, despite being quite young for her year, has bounced off to school confidently because of Ms. Chantelle’s support. We will miss our time at Oaktree!"