Frequently Asked Questions
What age range does Imagination Preschool accept?
We accept children from 12 months to 5 years old at our Battersea location. Every child is assigned a dedicated key educator from day one, and we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework across all 7 areas of learning. Our curriculum is built around creativity, music, movement, and outdoor learning, so whether your child is taking their first steps or getting ready for school, the programme adapts to where they are.
What are your opening hours?
We're open Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm, throughout the year. We stay open during most school half terms and holidays (with one week off around Christmas). Our hours are designed for working parents, and we offer flexible booking options including full days and funded-hours-only sessions.
Where exactly are you located?
We're at St Mary's RC Primary School, 7 St Joseph's Street, London SW8 4EN, in the Nine Elms area of Battersea.
By car, enter via Lockington Road (opposite the station) and follow the road around to the right. Our entrance is on your right where Lockington Road ends.
On foot from the station, walk down St Joseph's Street, past the main St Mary's school entrance. We're at the second entrance.
The nearest stations are Battersea Park (0.4 miles), Queenstown Road (0.5 miles), and Vauxhall (0.7 miles).
What is your Ofsted rating?
We were rated Good by Ofsted at our most recent inspection in August 2025. Our Ofsted URN is 2551881, and you can read the full inspection report on the Ofsted website. We're proud of the rating and the team works hard every day to maintain the standard our parents and children deserve.
Do you accept government-funded childcare hours?
Yes. We accept every government-funded childcare entitlement currently available, subject to nursery placement availability.
15 funded hours for eligible 2-year-olds (income-based eligibility, apply via childcarechoices.gov.uk)
Universal 15 hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds (automatic, no application needed from parents)
30 hours extended entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds
15 funded hours for children aged 9 months and over (for eligible working parents, from September 2024)
Tax-Free Childcare (government tops up £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 per year)
Childcare vouchers from providers including Yellownest, Enjoy Benefits, and Fidelity
If you qualify for funded hours, HMRC will give you an 11-digit code. Email it to funding@imaginationpreschool.co.ukalong with the applying parent's National Insurance number and date of birth, and we'll handle the rest. You'll need to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months.
What is your approach to learning?
Creativity sits at the centre of everything we do. We've built a curriculum that uses music, movement, and outdoor learning to teach the 7 areas of the Early Years Curriculum. The idea is simple: children make stronger connections with facts and remember them more quickly when they're learning through creative, hands-on activities.
We also believe children need regular contact with the natural world. Through woodland learning and outdoor sessions, we extend the classroom into the environment around us. It's not just about making dens and spotting insects (though there's plenty of that). We take our everyday curriculum outside, so children learn maths, language, and science in a setting that sparks their curiosity.
Every child develops confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills through this approach. Our goal is to give them the foundation for a happy, creative life, whatever path they choose.
How does the settling-in process work?
When your child starts with us, they're assigned a key educator whose job is to build a close relationship with both you and your child. Trust matters, and we take this part seriously.
During the first 6 weeks, we carry out a baseline assessment using the EYFS Framework, Early Years Outcomes, and ECAT (Every Child a Talker) tools. Your key educator will observe your child regularly and track their development across the prime areas of learning.
We'll also ask for a copy of your child's 2-year-old health check report. If your child hasn't had one yet, we'll advise you to book an appointment with your health visitor as soon as possible.
The settling-in period is about getting to know your child properly, not rushing them through a checklist. Every child is different, and we adjust the pace accordingly.
What happens when my child is ready for school?
We take the transition to school seriously. We'll complete a transition report summarising your child's development and learning outcomes. We also make a photo booklet for your child showing them what their new school looks like: the uniform, the building, their classroom, where they'll hang their coat, and what their teacher looks like. It's a small thing, but it makes a real difference.
Where possible, we'll invite the new teacher to visit our setting and observe your child in a familiar environment, so they can start building a relationship before the first day of school.
Do you provide meals?
Yes. We provide freshly prepared, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day. Our menus are designed around our nutrition ethos, which focuses on balanced, wholesome food that children actually enjoy eating.
We accommodate dietary requirements and allergies. During onboarding, we'll discuss your child's specific needs and make sure everything is in place before their first day. You can view our current menus on the Battersea Menus page.
What if my child has additional needs (SEND)?
We're committed to inclusive practice. If your child's key educator identifies that extra support might be needed, they'll discuss it with you first, then work with our SENDCO (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator).
With your consent, our SENDCO may also work with outside professionals including Speech and Language Therapists, the Wandsworth Early Years Inclusion Team, Children's Centres, and your health visitor. Together, we'll put strategies in place that work both at nursery and at home.
Our SENDCO has a training accreditation in Special Educational Needs and Disability and regularly reviews our SEND and Inclusion policies. We produce a SEND support plan with clear targets using a small-steps approach, carried out daily by your child's key educator.
Early intervention makes a real difference. If you have any concerns about your child's development, talk to us. We're here to help.
How do I book a tour or apply for a place?
The easiest way is to book a tour through our website. You can also email us at battersea-enquiry@imaginationpreschool.co.uk or call 020 7498 6455.
We'd love to show you around. Seeing the nursery in action gives you a much better feel for who we are than any website can.