Top tips for making the most of your nursery visit
We've compiled a list of popular questions families ask at nursery visits to help you when deciding which nursery to choose for your child's early years education.
Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery & Pre-School, Dulwich
Located five minutes from Tulse Hill and West Dulwich Railway Stations, Partou Lancaster Avenue provides high-quality childcare and early years education to families throughout Dulwich.
Combining a fantastic setting with a dedicated team of Early Years practitioners, our nursery is designed to support young children as they develop into confident little learners.
Facilities
Large, spacious playrooms that are filled with natural light to stimulate children and spark creativity
An exciting curriculum that reflects the individual needs and interests of each child
Healthy and delicious meals from our seasonal menu, freshly prepared at the nursery
Large garden area complete with sandpits, vegetable patches, mud kitchens and more to explore
Strong parent partnership with regular updates keeping you informed on your child’s progress
Funded childcare places available
Nursery fees
| Full-day (2 sessions) |
Weekly rate | Early start session | Morning session | Afternoon session | Late finish session | School day session | |
| Session time | 8.00am-6.00pm | 8.00am-6.00pm daily | 7.30am-8.00am | 8.00am-1.00pm | 1.00pm-6.00pm | 6.00-6.30 pm | 8.30am-3.30pm |
| 0-3 year olds | |||||||
| Care | £109.90 | £494.55 | £6.85 | £74.35 | £74.35 | £6.85 | N/A |
| Meals & snacks | £10.00 | £50.00 | £5.00 | £5.00 | N/A | ||
| Consumables | £4.00 | £20.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | N/A | ||
| Total | £123.90 | £564.55 | £81.35 | £81.35 | N/A | ||
| 3+ year olds | |||||||
| Care | £91.30 | £410.85 | £5.70 | £63.20 | £63.20 | £5.70 | £78.45 |
| Meals & snacks | £10.00 | £50.00 | £5.00 | £5.00 | £5.00 | ||
| Consumables | £4.00 | £20.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | £2.00 | ||
| Total | £105.30 | £480.85 | £70.20 | £70.20 | £85.45 | ||
Upon registration, you will be asked to pay a £75 registration fee (non-refundable) or a £75 registration deposit to reserve your child’s nursery place (see terms and conditions for eligibility).
What’s included in our fees?
Our full fees are clearly broken down into care, meals & snacks and consumables fees for full transparency.
Care fees include: trained, qualified team members taking care of your child, regular updates about your child and their progress at nursery, a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to the needs of your child, and use of the nursery building facilities.
Meals & snacks fees cover the cost of all food and drinks whilst your child is in our care. Meal and snack times are a very important part of Partou nursery life, learn more about how we make food and nutrition enjoyable and educational for children in our care.
Consumables include; important daily care items needed such as nappies, wet wipes and sun cream.
Discounts
Only one discount can be applied at any time:
- 5% discount for eldest child for siblings.
- 5% discount for Blue Light Card holders.
-
Other key information
- We’re closed on Bank Holidays.
- Charges apply across 52 weeks of the year, including Bank Holidays.
- We close for 3 inset days a year. 2 days at Easter (Thursday before Good Friday and the Tuesday after Easter Monday), plus a day in December.
Funded childcare
Partou Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery & Pre-School is proud to offer funded childcare places
Funded childcare is a government incentive fulfilled by Local Authorities which aims to provide financial support for eligible families accessing childcare at an OFSTED registered setting. Partou Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery & Pre-School work with Lambeth Local Authority to apply childcare funding for eligible families.
Funding typically covers 15 or 30 hours per week for the 38 term weeks of the year across a maximum of 10 hours a day which will be applied in different ways depending how many weeks of the year your child is in childcare:
- Children who are in year-round childcare will receive “stretched” funding. This means that their 15/30 hours over 38 weeks will be stretched over 51 weeks of the year so children accessing year round childcare at Partou Lancaster Avenue will receive 11.17/22.35 hours of funded childcare per week.
- Children who have term-time only childcare places will receive 15/30 hours funding per week over 38 weeks of the year. Term-time only places are limited and are subject to availability.
Government funding for childcare only applies to the care fee (as described above). Meals & snacks and consumables fees are fully chargeable for all sessions including funded.
Term duration and dates
The 2025/2026 terms dates set by Lambeth for Partou Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery & Pre-School are below so you can see which term dates funding is applicable for:
|
|
Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
| Term Duration | 14 Weeks | 11 Weeks | 13 Weeks |
| 1st Half Term Dates | 8th Sept – 24th Oct | 5th Jan – 13th Feb | 13th April – 22nd May |
| 2nd Half Term Dates | 3rd Nov – 19th Dec | 23rd Feb – 27th March | 1st June – 17th July |
Please note that when you access funding in the term can impact the hours you are eligible for within that term period.
Our team will be able to assist you with any funding and term questions you may have.
)
Lancaster Avenue
Day Nursery
& Pre-school
0208 761 0770
Mon - Fri, 7.30am to 6.30pm (excl. bank holidays)
43 Lancaster Ave, Norwood, London SE27 9EL
View on map
What do families say about Partou Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery & Pre-School in Dulwich?
Overall rating
83%
17%
0%
0%
0%
L M
07 May 2026
I have two children in Lancaster Nursery and could not be happier with the professionalism and care that is presented/given to my children. The staff are always very attentive and pleasant from my experience and it is well managed. The environment is always safe, enjoyable and clean which is priority...
A H
01 May 2026
Both our daughters love the nursery, the staff are amazing, the facilities are great and all the children seem happy. The staff take a lot of time preparing structured fun learning sessions whilst incorporating a lot of outdoor play. The chef cooks fresh nutritious food which they enjoy too!
Rebecca A
24 April 2026
The team at Lancaster Avenue Day Nursery has all been so wonderful. Love there passion of helping all children's growth and caring nature. I will definitely recommend this Nursery to anyone. I appreciate them all so much. Thankyou
Michelle B
24 April 2026
My Goddaughter has been attending this nursery since the age of 1 years old, she has grown tremendously within all areas and aspects of her development.The attention to detail to the care and support she receives is above and beyond. The staff are so attentive to her needs and not only do they suppor...
Angella B
23 April 2026
My Granddaughter experience at Lancaster has been a world wind of excitement, growth and enrichment. When I go to collect her, she excitingly tells me about her day and she is always engrossed in exploration. The staff are welcoming and nurturing, they support and guide me when needed. As my granddau...
Natalie R
23 April 2026
The absolutely WONDERFUL staff at this nursery and the attention and care they pay to the children and the activities they prepare to keep them busy and learning and enrich their lives are brilliant. My son struggled with separation for many years at drop off and they have always provided really gent...
N H
22 April 2026
I've had a really positive experience with this nursery and would highly recommend it. The environment is warm, welcoming, and well-organised, with a strong focus on children's development and wellbeing. The staff are caring, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child. My child loves the new ...
H D
01 April 2026
Our daughter has been here since she was under a year old, and now at three and a half, we couldn't be happier with her progress. The nursery provides excellent developmental support, and she has built wonderful friendships during her time here. A huge highlight is the large outdoor garden. The chil...
Vicki M
17 May 2024
We've been so pleased with the way three staff members in particular and the team have settled my child in over the past 3 weeks. One of these staff members makes so much effort to put us at ease, she is so welcoming at the start of the day, greets us with a big smile and my child has really taken to...
Joanne N
25 March 2024
My daughter has been in Nelly's Nursery full-time for approximately eight months. She loves it there, and there's even been a couple of evenings where she's been having such a good time that she's reluctant to come home! The staff in the baby room, in particular, are generally fantastic, getting exci...
G R
25 March 2024
Our little one has been so happy at Nelly’s Lancaster after finding settling in quite difficult. But the baby room staff look after him so well, and he has formed a close attachment with all the adults. He feels really at home and has gained confidence. We’re assured that he is really well looked...
E A
25 March 2024
Absolute beautiful setting, with plenty of space for children to play and enjoy daily activities. The staff are very polite, always smiling and engaging with children. My young child has been here for five months and enjoys it; he has settled in really, really well. (Sooner than I had imagined). ...
J W
12 December 2023
My compliments to the staff, they are amazing. As a first-time parent, I am more than comfortable and content to leave my child in an environment that has that home away from home feel. They catered to me and my child's needs during the settling-in period and accommodated any changes without hesitati...
Akosua B
03 April 2023
My daughter has been attending Nelly's Nursery for almost a year now. She is very happy going in every morning and even on days that she is off, it feels like her second home. The staff and managers are nurturing and supportive and they provide her with so much attention and positivity. I have been g...
C W
30 March 2023
Warm and friendly atmosphere, it’s very much a big Nellys family! Our toddler loves the garden and looking forward to our daughter starting in the baby room soon. In particular, we have liked and been impressed by: - quality (and retention) of staff! - range of activities (including some extras ...
Why Partou?
For us at Partou, childcare isn’t just a job, it’s a journey – one where every child leads us in a unique new direction.
As part of the Netherlands’ largest childcare group, we’ve access to world-leading expertise in learning and development, so you can be confident your child will benefit from an experience as unique as they are.
Of course, care is as much about empathy as education, and ours is a child-led approach that emphasises building confidence and curiosity – so that every child in our care has the freedom to flourish.
Reassurance for you and your little one
Care
We’re more than just a team; we’re a close community driven by our passion for childcare, and our commitment to each individual child’s development. We know that by working together, we’re stronger.
Compassion
In our community, compassion isn’t just a word; it’s our way of life. By embracing our differences, we make our community more diverse and vibrant. We build strong, supportive relationships with the children and each other, based on trust and understanding.
Continuous learning
We believe strongly in development, for the children in our care and for ourselves. Through continuous learning, we help our team and our children reach their full potential. Together, we make a positive impact, in our communities and across wider society.
Helpful information for your nursery search
Understanding the Ofsted inspection changes
Ofsted are making important changes to the way that they inspect and rate children's services and childcare settings; learn what these are and what they mean for families.
Working Family Childcare Funding Explained
From 1st September, more families than ever will be eligible for the government’s expanded “30 hours free childcare” scheme. Our guide explains what working family childcare funding is, who qualifies, how it’s applied, and the steps you need to take to claim it. Whether you need term-time ...