1st Place Children and Parents' Centre | 2 Day Nurseries

Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from T I (Father of Child) published on 22 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our son joined this nursery about a year and a half ago without speaking any English. Thanks to the warm and caring teachers, by the time he graduated he was able to communicate with confidence and enjoy daily life at the nursery.

He learned important social skills and daily routines, and he made many

friends along the way. We were very happy to see his growth in independence and his ability to connect with others.

The teachers always created a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment where our son could feel comfortable and happy. The balance of learning, play, and interaction helped him develop in a positive way.

Now, as he moves on to the next stage of education, he does so with confidence and a positive outlook. We are very grateful to all the staff for their dedication and kindness.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted to hear about your son's progress and confidence since joining us. It's wonderful to know he felt supported, made friends, and grew in…read more

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Daniel B (Father of Child) published on 22 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Both of our sons passed through First Place nurseries - formerly at Lorrimore Square, now at the Elephant - and we were incredibly happy with the care that they both received across the combined five year period. The staff were consistently brilliant - helpful and considerate whenever any issues arose,

organising trips, and the forest school was excellent. Both of the boys miss their friends and carers at First Place and talk about their time there fondly.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you, Daniel, for sharing such lovely feedback. We're delighted to hear both your sons had such positive experiences with us over the years. It's wonderful to know that the trips, Forest School,…read more

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Hui T (Mother of Child) published on 19 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My child was at 1st Place nursery from 8-months old till the start of school. She was consistently well cared for. There was a daily update of what she had done, if she had slept, what she had eaten (or not!), and sometimes a photo of the activity. The formal reports were also helpful. It was lovely

to talk to staff who were as interested in my child's development as I was. As a first time mother, it was wonderful to feel supported through my concerns. My child thrived in this environment. The staff were communicative and helpful even through the big emotional upheaval of moving from one nursery location to another in a very stressful circumstance. We are very grateful to have chanced upon such a great nursery. Our lives were made a lot easier knowing that our child was well cared for while we worked.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for your kind words. We're delighted to hear about your son's progress and confidence since joining us. It's wonderful to know he felt supported, made friends, and grew in…read more

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from R T (Mother of Child) published on 23 June 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Both my children have gone to first place and have been extremely happy. The nursery staff are caring, thoughtful and sensible. They really get to know the kids and understand their foibles. The setting is bright, clean and has great outdoor space. All the kids are active and physical throughout the

day and they have opportunities to play sports. The kids all say that the chef makes the best jollof rice ever. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better provider for my children and I will miss them greatly.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from B T (Mother of Child) published on 13 May 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

All the staff are so wonderful and happy, and my son really gets on with them all. They've got great facilities, and have wonderful outdoor space where they spend a lot of time and they have forest school. The staff are dedicated to making it an amazing place for the kids, they were also very accommodating

when my son had an operation and had certain needs. Highly recommend

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Kate A (Mother of Child) published on 27 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We've been with 1st Place since my daughter-now four-joined the Baby Room at a previous nursery when she was one. When that nursery merged with 1st Place Elephant last year, we chose to move with them, even though it's less convenient for us. That's a real testament to the team, who have always been

exceptionally warm and caring.
Our son joined 1st Place Elephant when he turned one and is thriving. Both kids are very happy there. They're well cared for and always busy with a variety of activities. We really appreciate the regular trips - Forest School sessions, visits to museums, and other days out. And our kids also love spending time in the studio, working on art projects. It's in the same building, but they're always excited to go!
And while it might seem like a small thing, we really value the nursery's use of reusable nappies. I don't know of any others that do, and it must have prevented thousands of disposables from going to landfill. That's no small thing.

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Eva T (Mother of Child) published on 24 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

I am very satisfied with the care and education my son receives at 1st place. The staff's friendliness and dedication have created a nurturing environment where my child feels welcomed and valued. Since joining, he has made remarkable progress in his learning and development, a testament to the team's

commitment to individualised growth. Also, The regular and insightful feedback provided keeps me well-informed about his daily experiences and achievements.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from L S (Mother of Child) published on 16 January 2025 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Wonderful nursery with great facilities and very dedicated staff. Our 2 kids attended the nursery and we could not be happier with their ways they are cared for, their learning and the ways in which they develop their confidence. This nursery also offer great healthy food cooked onsite and one day a

week of forest school.
We highly recommend it.

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from L S (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

I can't rant enough about how brilliant 1st place is. I am so happy that my daughter comes here, the staff are wonderful and go above and beyond for all the children. It's a magical and nutritional environment for them and I have seen my daughter blossom over the past couple of months of being here.
There

is continuous and well-documented feedback about my daughter's progress as well as plenty of pictures of her playing with other children. I always feel very much involved in her progress and development. The management is always present and takes the time to say hello and if we have any concerns we feel comfortable enough to address them. It's a family-orientated nursery and you don't often get this feeling in other settings so we are very pleased. Thank you to everyone for everything.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us such a lovely and detailed review. I have passed your feedback on to The Elephant team. We're very pleased to hear that you and your child are happy…read more

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from I N (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our daughter has been at 1st Place at the Elephant since it opened, having transferred from 1st Place Cambridge House when it closed.
We could not be happier with the nursery, our daughter is well cared for and stimulated. Their child-led approach gives the children agency over the activities and how

they play.
The staff are fantastic, patient, caring, and engaged with the children. Our daughter talks about them and knows them all as individuals as well as the people who look after her during the day.
The relatively small size of the nursery and its central location means they have easy access to transport and central London. They often go on trips to museums or shows and explore the city in small groups on foot too. They also have access to a Forest School which our daughter has loved, especially when she was taught how to safely use a saw to cut wood!
Thank you to all the staff, you do an amazing job!

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Regan O (Mother of Child) published on 14 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

I am a mother of a 15-month-old and I cannot speak highly enough of 1st Place. Without a doubt, this nursery deserves a 5-star rating in every aspect.
My son absolutely loves it there, and it warms my heart to see how much he has thrived in the 6 months he's been attending. His language, motor skills,

and social skills have all seen remarkable improvements, which I attribute to the nurturing environment provided by the dedicated staff.
Speaking of the staff, I cannot praise them enough. They are exceptional caregivers who go above and beyond to ensure his well-being and development. Their friendliness, love, and support have played a significant role in his growth and happiness at the nursery.
I wholeheartedly recommend this nursery to any parent looking for a warm, nurturing, and supportive environment for their child. My son and I are grateful for the wonderful experiences and memories he is creating there.

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Chris P (Father of Child) published on 6 June 2024 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have been really happy at 1st Place. Our children have been happy and come home buzzing about their days and all that they've done. The staff are very approachable and engaging and are interested in the children, their welfare, happiness, and development.
The nursery works hard to enrich the days

beyond the time at nursery going to museums, theatres, parks, forest school, cultural visits, and many more.
The children eat well and get good balanced meals and are taught to be independent and do more for themselves.
We've been really happy and have recommended the nursery to friends who've also moved their children there.

Reply from Rachael Burton, Communications and Marketing Manager at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We appreciate the feedback and are over the moon to hear that you and your children are happy at 1st Place. I have passed the feedback on to…read more

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Mary A (Mother of Child) published on 7 December 2023 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

The majority of the nursery staff that have contact with your child are great. My son has a lovely time with the staff he plays with. Unfortunately, the management and the handling of complaints are incredibly concerning. On that basis, I would not recommend the nursery if you care about your child’s

overall welfare and bodily autonomy and respect.

Reply from Nicola Howard, Director at 1st Place at The Elephant

Thank you for acknowledging how much fun your son is having at the nursery and how lovely the staff are. We are very happy to hear.
It is concerning that you feel management is not up to your…read more

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Ursula P (Mother of Child) published on 27 June 2023 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

The 1st Place Nursery at Chumleigh Gardens has been a wonderful place for my son and us as new parents. The rarity of a well run business with the feel of a family. Wonderful facilities, beautiful setting, engaged, well trained and warm staff. We will truly miss it, but so glad we went through our nursery

journey with 1st Place. I feel my son is ready to join 'big school', much due to the safe hands of 1st Place experts.
A deep thank you from us all.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Claire T (Mother of Child) published on 1 September 2022 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our son has been at 1st Place Chumleigh Gardens for 3 years. We will be sad to say goodbye when he leaves for school in a couple of weeks. We have valued the responsive and consistent staff who create genuine bonds with the children. We have also valued the community that is created around the nursery.

The children had a beautiful graduation ceremony to mark their ending. We look forward to our second child joining next year.

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Review of
1st Place at The Elephant
from Poppy T (Mother of Child) published on 8 May 2022 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our daughter has been at the nursery since she was a baby, and is currently in the pre-school room. We have been overjoyed at the level of care and compassion she has received through each level of the nursery. The food menus are diverse, the rooms are set-out with lots of different areas such as a

reading corner, a building area and an I.C.T area. It's organised in a very thoughtful way, and the rooms are wonderfully light and welcoming. The outside play areas are kept well. There is very little staff turnover as it's a family-run business and we feel like we know the staff well, and they are all wonderfully kind and caring. We're very happy with her progress at the nursery, they clearly take the curriculum very seriously and we see improvements all the time.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Angelina S (Mother of Child) published on 14 July 2021 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens has been an amazing experience for our daughter, for four years she has been excited to go to nursery every day. After looking at many nurseries this one definitely stood out not only for the great location in the park with a bright, cheerful building but also because

of the creative learning approach. The staff provide a lovely warm atmosphere for the children, the food menu is well balanced and nutritious and they have done a lot of age-appropriate activities to ensure that the children are school-ready. We have also enjoyed meeting other families and integrating with the community, we would highly recommend this nursery.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Francesca V (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have had such a positive experience at 1st Place Chumleigh Gardens. The staff, facilities and overall environment have been so welcoming and nurturing. Our daughter started nursery whe she was 15 months old and has really thrived. We know the high level of care, support and creativity she has experienced

at 1st Place have played a crucial part in allowing her to feel safe and comfortable to explore the world around her. We have seen how much she has developed and how happy she is at nursery and are so thankful for the hard work and efforts of all the staff, particularly through the unprecedented challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has presented them with. We can't recommend them highly enough.

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Beth H (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have been delighted in our choice of First Place since our daughter joined at 11 months (now 3) and our baby son will join in the Summer. The environment is lovely, light filled with great outdoor space in the middle of the park. Our daughter has always been very happy there, staff take time to get

to know children and families well - supporting children to settle in, develop their interests and pursue new ones and supporting parents to navigate the whole process successfully. We have got to know lots of the other families too and feel really lucky to be part of such a great little local community - we genuinely couldn't ask for more or better and wholeheartedly recommend it (and I'm the headteacher of a primary school so I have some professional knowledge too.)

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Review of
1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens
from Filipa A (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My daughter just turned two years old and she loves 1st place so, so much. The beginning wasn’t easy, neither for her nor me. Lots of tears and separation anxiety but everyone (from the receptionist to the teachers and her key worker) made sure she would be happy. After three weeks she was so happy

to go to the nursery. She literally runs and waves at me goodbye. I feel my daughter is safe and loved at 1st place (Bruges Park). The big plus is they stimulate children too. She counts to 10 and sings Abcd on her own. She is so happy, we started with two days a week and now we are increasing. Thank you 1st Place.

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Day Nurseries Owned by 1st Place Children and Parents' Centre

1st Place Children and Parents' Centre Locations (2)

1st Place Children and Parents' Centre Reviews (27)

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at The Elephant

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

1st Place at Chumleigh Gardens

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