Iverna Gardens Montessori Iverna Gardens, London W8 6TP

"The best nursery on the planet. Nothing more nothing less. I am extremely grateful that my son had had the opportunity to start his school journey with IG. They definitely put the child in the middle of their considerations (not an effective administration of a business). They have taught him invaluable lessons for life: self-estime, self-confidence, and kindness towards others. This is a true Montessori school. I can only recommend it."

"It's never about the business and always the child's individual journey at Iverna Gardens Monstessori. We miss them and we are so grateful for our time with IG. Not just his love for learning, my child's confidence, social well being, emotional growth was incredible at IG and even now, they always ask about him and are happy to share words of comfort or wisdom. Its a hidden gem- the whole idea behind a montessori and the way Miss Felicty & her team are running this one in particular. Thank you so much. He had the best time and recalls whatever bits & pieces he can with such fondness."

"Iverna Gardens is the best place for a child to begin their journey in life! The lessons my son has learnt will stay with him forever. We were recommended this nursery by friends that had sent their children there over 6 years ago and it was the best decision we made. We only wish that we had know about Iverna sooner and been able to send our older children there as well. Thank you Miss Felicity and all the amazing teachers at Iverna Gardens who made Alexander’s time at nursery such a special one which he will never forgot."

"My 5 children attended Iverna Gardens and as a consequence I was an 'Iverna Gardens Parents' for 10 years. I cannot find the words to describe how incredible Iverna has been for our family. My children are now aged 15 to 8 and there is not one day I miss not collecting one of them or dropping them at Iverna. I can definitely see on a day to day basis how my children have now become confident and independent learners, feeling safe to try new things, and to venture off the common path to take mesaured risks. Very importantly as well my children now all value friendship and kindness and I know for a fact that this is thanks to the environment in which they blossomed at Iverna, each of the 5 having their own nursery journey. The quality of the teachers was always incredible. The are all very approachable. It is a family run business and the atmosphere is extremely warm and welcoming also very genuine without fuss or pretention whatsover, which really mattered to me. At some point we had to move to Geneva, our children were temporarily in another nusery setting and the comparison cannot even be started. Before deciding on which nursery to go to for my first child, I had done extensive research in the whole areas of Kensington, Notting Hill, Chelsea and even Primrose Hill. What really drew me to Iverna was that the people there truly cared about the children. Yes they do apply Montessori approaches to learning and development - all the teachers are very well trained and knowledgeable - but a factor that makes the whole difference is that the nursery is run by incredibly emotionally smart people who take each child individually and ensure that each child travels through these formative first years happily and confidently."

"We've had all 3 of our children at Iverna Gardens, and couldn't ask for a more magical experience for them. We had been living in Kensington for some time when our eldest was due for nursery, and were looking for a neighborhood nursery. IG was recommended by a fellow mum in our building, whose 4 children had all attended IG. When our eldest attended, IG was populated with like minded parents who were committed to an excellent early years education for their children. My children's key workers knew and loved each of my children and prepared detailed reports each term. They noticed my children's interests and gave me tips for how I could continue to stimulate curiosity at home. Happily, IG combines independent learning with structured 'circle time,' so my children were encouraged to eat when they were hungry, to play messily and vigorously , and to explore, investigate and ask questions about the world around them. Supporting the current research on the benefits of 'messy play' in early years development, my children were encouraged to get messy during the school day. However, the school always had a spare set of clothing for them, and they were never left wet or dirty during the school day. As a mum living in Central London, I was grateful they could experience a bit of the childhood I enjoyed, where I was allowed to get messy and play with freedom and joy. Two of my three have now matriculated to academically selective primary schools in Central London and my youngest has taken a place to begin reception this coming September. They all performed well in their assessments and have now transitioned easily into a structured classroom environment. In fact, my children's primary school teachers have commented on their curiosity, attentiveness to learning and their ability to articulate concepts verbally and to get along with their peers. The hands on phonics and maths and fine motor preparation they received at IG prepared them well for the reading, writing and maths work at their primary schools, and more importantly, they exhibit curiosity about what they are reading and a desire to read more. Iverna Gardens is a place for parents who want an excellent experience for their children and who understand the importance of independent, child led learning at a neighborhood establishment. Though IG has an Outstanding rating and a pristine Tatler review, if this is your sole interest in a nursery, you most likely will miss out on the true magic of the place. If, however, you're interested in a loving, nurturing place which will prepare your child with the building blocks to succeed in life, you will find a happy home at IG. And you don't have to be in Kensington very long to know this is the 'word on the street' about this beautiful nursery."