Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School

Queens Park Court, Ilbert Street, London W10 4QA
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8.7 41 Reviews
  • Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School, London
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted (October 2025), Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School provides childcare and education to children from birth to 5 years old.

The Nursery is in Kensal Green, close to Queen’s Park and Kensal Rise stations. It's a bright, airy setting with a large garden, providing plenty of space for all-weather outdoor activities.

For the long-standing staff, the key to learning is variety. Each day is different! The children enjoy science experiments like ‘Volcanoes’, yoga, growing vegetables in the greenhouse, messy arts play, woodwork, and more. They also have a sensory room for babies.

The Nursery's on-site chef provides a range of meals and snacks from LEYF’s nutritious menu.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Yvonne Cadore (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 14

Registered Charity Number

  • 299686

Total Places for Children

  • 52

Age Range

  • from 0 years 0 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School Reviews (41)

8.7

Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School has a Review Score of 8.7 (8.698) out of 10, based on 4 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School has 41 reviews.

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Review from Solitaire (Mother of Child) published on 11 August 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I absolutely loved this nursery from the moment we came for a visit. The staff are so great and really made me feel at ease when I had to leave my then 9 month old there and return to work. The staff feels like family, and the management is run very well and anything I needed was met with prompt responses.
My daughter has developed so much in her time here. I really recommend this nursery. The outdoor area is particularly large which I felt was great. Overall 5 star nursery.
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Review from Andrew P (Father of Child) published on 7 October 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son was only at this nursery for a few months, but only because we decided to move house away from the area. It was a very sad day when our son left the nursery. From the beginning, the staff at Katherine Bruce welcomed our family with great openness and kindness. They were exceptionally good at
introducing our son to the pre-school and its daily routines, helping him to overcome an early period where he was unsettled. During his time at the nursery, our son grew hugely in confidence and made a number of friendships with other children; he also got into a good routine with going to the toilet. His 'key person', and all the other teachers were very good at finding the kids interesting things to do. They organised several good trips, including one to see a fire station, a 'Gruffalo' play and a picnic in the park. We would not hesitate to recommend this nursery to other parents.
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Review from H D (Mother of Child) published on 12 August 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All of the ladies that work at the nursery are incredibly caring and kind. We have always experienced a high level of care and interest in ensuring our daughter thrives    
at Katharine Bruce.
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Review from F A W (Father of Child) published on 9 August 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Since joining the nursery my daughter has developed in so many ways. She is more confident and balanced and looks forward to going into nursery consistently. My daughter loves the teachers very much and the teachers are very approachable for parents/guardians as well. My experience of the nursery has
been awesome and I would definitely recommend to others.
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Review from N B (Father of Child) published on 5 August 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child has thrived at this nursery, growing in confidence and learning new skills every day. The staff are very kind and supportive and we know we can trust them to look after our child. They have a nice outdoor space that is used every day and fresh food is cooked on site.
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Review from Mireia F (Mother of Child) published on 17 July 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are extremely happy with the nursery, the staff are caring, loving and knowledgeable, our 2-year-old daughter loves it! They know your child inside and out and they are extremely helpful with anything you may ask them to do/work on with your little one. Good daily feedback and great outdoor and indoor
space, better facilities than most nurseries around. The only downside is the price as it is quite pricey compared to others. All in all I would definitely recommend it to other parents, it does feel like a second home for your little one.
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Review from Marie T (Mother of Child) published on 21 June 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We genuinely could not be happier with ours and our little girl's experience at Katharine Bruce Community Nursery. The staff is wonderful and goes above and beyond for our little ones. Our two year old gets excited at the thought of going.
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Review from Louise H (Mother of Child) published on 21 June 2019 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very happy with our nursery - our daughter is extremely happy there. We really value the lovely, large outside space, not having a garden ourselves. It's great the way activities are structured, with different things planned each day. Feedback from staff each day and at parents evenings is excellent.
We always feel welcomed when we come to drop off/collect our daughter and love the friendly atmosphere.
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Review from Lauren K (Mother of Child) published on 13 June 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter is 3 and has been coming to the Nursery since she was 2.5 years old. She really loves it and has made so many friends. She has also learnt so much and every day is learning new things.
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Review from Samantha C (Mother of Child) published on 10 June 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our 2-year-old has been attending Katharine Bruce since she was 9 months old and couldn't be happier. Her development is excellent and her vocabulary and social skills are great. We're really pleased we chose this nursery.
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Review from Emily S (Mother of Child) published on 12 June 2018 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My daughters are learning a lot at Katharine Bruce Community Nursery and are able to count, write and work maths sums out when they had no idea a couple of months ago. Thanks to Katharine Bruce Community Nursery, they are ready for school in September and have grown up and interacted very well with
their peers and grown-ups. I am really glad they get to do baking and exploring outside activities too.
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Review from M H (Father of Child) published on 25 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are friendly and the facilities are good, with a large outdoor space they use frequently.
When we've raised (very occasional) issues they've been addressed quickly and effectively.
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Review from Nick M (Father of Child) published on 16 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
The Katharine Bruce Community Nursery provided a friendly, safe and nurturing environment for our two oldest children, who both attended for 2-3 full days (0800-1800) per week. The staff are great with kids. There is a rich variety of materials to play with and activities to do. Our children have always
enjoyed and looked forward to going to the nursery. The only downsides are the cost, which is expensive and the organisation has become inflexible with regards to the hours children can attend. We have been told that in the future, children will have to attend for five half - or full days per week. The fees make this unaffordable for us, so we are having to find a different nursery for our youngest child, which is a shame.
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Review from Aude N (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Katharine Bruce Nursery is such an amazing nursery. I can’t find anything wrong to say about it. The staff is so competent and nice, my daughters adore going to nursery.
Well done to everyone and thanks so much to be that exceptional!
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Review from Louise S (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
A clean and safe environment for my child. Staff are helpful and engaging. A real focus on child development and learning as well as free play encouraging creativity and individual interests. Reading journals have been excellent and encourage parents to continue home learning to support Work done in
the nursery.


Lots of good interaction with parents and always encourage to get involved and contribute to activities.


Good outdoor space and space in rooms for children to move around and play.

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Review from Maria T B (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending this nursery since last November. After a short period of settling down, she is now confident and happy to stay there especially with her key teachers and another child who is now her special friend. All the teachers are really professional and nurturing. I really like
their big garden and the cosy bedroom where children can rest separately from those who don’t.
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Review from Stephen A (Father of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
From the first day, staff have gone out of their way to ensure my daughter's welfare and I always feel confident that she will be well looked after and supported during her time there. The staff update us daily on her learning and activities for the day and meet with us regularly to review her learning
and development plan.


My daughter's language and social skills have vastly improved since joining the nursery and she is more confident in her verbal skills and in interacting with the staff and other children. The focus on both structured and free play has done wonders for her development. All the staff have a genuine interest in all of the children and go above and beyond in their duties and responsibilities.


Parents are encouraged to participate and always kept involved in reading and class learning.


The setting provides a great space with a lovely secure garden. I have recommended this nursery to several friends looking for excellent childcare in the area

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Review from Isabel (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
We have 2 children at this Nursery (1.5 year old in Baby room and 3.5 year old in Preschool). They are happy, and settled well with both peers and staff.


The staff - All are extremely kind and caring and show a genuine interest in their personalities and development. We are regularly updated on

progress. There has been very little/no turnover since our eldest started c.2 years ago.


Outside space - Large for London- slides, a greenhouse and always supervised. They play outside daily and the babies are cordoned off from older kids.


Learning and development - We are reassured that they are stimulated in many ways- no 2 days the same. Preschool room preps for school - we have a weekly book to read at home, and early letter and word recognition. Inquisitiveness, curiosity and imagination are encouraged which is important for us.


Meals - An on-site chef cooks each day, without sugar.


We are very happy with Katharine Bruce nursery and thank the staff for their role in our children's childhood. I would definitely recommend this nursery.

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Review from Laura (Mother of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been at Katharine Bruce for 2 years and enjoys his time at nursery. He has a bond with all members of staff and I feel they genuinely care about him and his wellbeing. Communication between staff and parents is very good and I feel that my son is safe and happy whilst at the nursery.


The

children are separated according to the age group which is beneficial especially for the tiny babies and those getting ready to move on to school. Meals are healthy and nutritious and prepared on site. The variety and frequency of snacks throughout the day are excellent.


The outdoor space is large and safe and my child is able to run around and let off steam every day as long as the weather permits.


I am happy with the care provided at the nursery, my elder child also attended nursery here and I would recommend to friends and family.

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Review from Asher T (Father of Child) published on 15 May 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Very good nursery with very supportive staff team. I have had 2 of my children attend this nursery and they have both loved it. The staff team show a high level of commitment to support children's growth and development which leads to a smooth transition into mainstream education. Would highly recommend
to anyone looking for a supportive and excellent nursery.
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Current Review Score: 8.7 (8.698)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.7 (8.698) out of 10 for Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 4 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.8 out of 5 from 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.938 for Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School is calculated as follows: ( (45 Excellents x 5) + (3 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 48 Ratings = 4.938
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 3.76 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School is based on 4 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 = 3.375
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 52 number of registered child places is 10.4. 4 Positive Reviews ÷ 10.4 = 0.385
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (0)

Meet the Team (1)

Yvonne

Yvonne

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 1996

Hello, my name is Yvonne and I have been with LEYF since 1996 and joined Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School in 1997. We are really special because of our extensive outdoor area and qualified staff, who are friendly and supportive. My proudest moment here was probably when I introduced the outing for the whole nursery, something which had never been done before I became manager.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Katharine Bruce Nursery & Pre-School has an Enhanced Service - more info.