Little Shells Nursery at St James offers a warm, nurturing environment where young children are encouraged to grow with confidence, curiosity and joy. Located in Kensington Olympia, the nursery provides an inspiring setting that blends creativity, gentle structure, and a deep respect for each child’s individuality.
The team at Little Shells is experienced, caring, and passionate about early years education. They place equal importance on emotional wellbeing, social development and learning...
Funding & Fees
3 full days: £315/pw £1,260/pm £15,120/pa
4 full days: £420/pw £1,680/pm £20,160/pa
5 full days: £525/pw £2,100/pm £25,200/pa
*Full day sessions include lunch
*VAT included
We offer the government's 15-hour & 30-hour childcare funding for Nursery places. Once you have applied and if you are eligible, you will be given a code which we will ask for in our registration form.
Goverment funding is based on 38 weeks of the year, giving eligible families 570 and 1140 hours respectively.
To keep your monthly payments stable throughout the year, we roll this funding over the 48 weeks per year that we are open.
We know that each Nursery School applies funding in different ways, so please feel free to ask our Admissions Registrar for further details.
Contact Little Shells Nursery at St James to get a personalised quote:
Type of Service
- Day Nursery
Opening Schedule
Open all yearFull days available
YesHalf day sessions offered
YesOwner
- St James Schools
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Person in charge
- Hilary Wyatt (Head of St James Nursery & Preparatory School)
Number of Childcare Staff
- 5
Registered Charity Number
- 270156
Total Places for Children
- 35
Age Range
- from 2 years 0 months
- to 4 years 11 months
Meals Provided
NoConsumables provided
NoOpening Times
- Monday 07:30-18:00
- Tuesday 07:30-18:00
- Wednesday 07:30-18:00
- Thursday 07:30-18:00
- Friday 07:30-18:00
When Closed
- Christmas: 22/12/25 to 26/12/25, Easter: 30/03/26 to 05/04/26, Summer: 18/08/26 to 31/08/26
Little Shells Nursery at St James Reviews (4)
Little Shells Nursery at St James has a Review Score of 8.9 (8.924) out of 10, based on 4 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Little Shells Nursery at St James has 4 reviews.
My son has been attending the Nursery since April 2024. He has made so much progress during his time there. He is super sociable and inquisitive which are skills he has fostered in the nursery with the love, care and support he has received from the wonderful staff. He has particularly grown in his enthusiasm for the outdoors and his scientific understanding from his regular forest school sessions. He has grown in his language skills too and is now using a broad vocabulary and lots of new words. We have been so happy with the nursery facilities and the space is beautiful. He loves nursery and looks forward to starting his day. Thanks so much for looking after him and helping him to thrive.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We are delighted to be helping each child grow within themselves and that you are also seeing the progress. Plenty more fun and varied activities in and outside of our Nursery space lined up for 2026!
The children have fantastic opportunities to take part in school performances and assemblies, which really helps them feel included and confident. The outdoor space is excellent, and the varied daily schedule keeps every day exciting and fun. It's a truly special place that provides a fantastic start to their school journey.
The whole team would like to say thank you for this amazing feedback! We are very privileged to have such a strong link to our Prep School and Senior School, as connecting and interacting with the wider world is so important at this stage of children's development. We also love to be able to do so...
I would highly recommend the nursery. English is not my little one's mother tongue and he's of a shy personality. The staff are extremely caring, patient and attentive. They shower him with love and give him safe space to grow. Within a few weeks' time, there is a huge development in my little one. He started from crying every morning to looking after going to the nursery. He makes good friends and enjoys the activities, particularly the garden visits. Many thanks to the staff again, and I'd highly recommend the nursery to anyone considering!
Thank you so much, on behalf of the whole team, for your kind words!As with most new experiences, settling into a new environment can be challenging, especially for young children. We are so glad our team was able to help with a smooth transition and make your little one feel excited to come into...
The nursery at St James' is a really special place. It encompasses facilities and activities (forest school, chef-led cooking lessons, drama, music, library, sport, mindfulness, Sanskrit) you would expect from a pre prep nursery with a warm and nurturing environment that feels like family. The teachers are hugely intuitive and give the children the space and encouragement to become compliant students while retaining and nurturing their respective characters. This was essential to me - to find a place that enabled children to become familiar with school routine without 'breaking their spirit.' I cannot express how grateful we are to St James and the other gorgeous families for such a wonderful year in nursery and the transition to school. Forever grateful and only wish we had found St James' sooner!
Thank you so much, on behalf of the whole team, for such a lovely review!As you beautifully said, the whole ethos of St James is to celebrate and nurture the individual within every child, and we achieve that through all the opportunities for fun and discovery our pupils are given throughout their...
Child Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (1) & Events (0)
- Posted: Wednesday 16 Jul 2025We are delighted to announce the expansion of our Nursery provision to better support our local families’ needs. Starting this September, our nursery will be open 48 weeks a year,...
There are no upcoming events for Little Shells Nursery at St James .
Awards / Recognitions (1)
- Recipient: Little Shells Nursery at St James Date: Friday 31 Jan 2025
Meet the Team (4)
I have been teaching for the past 15 years, working with children across a range of age groups in the EYFS and beyond.
I’m originally from New Zealand, where I gained extensive experience in the child-led approach. Since moving to London, I have worked in both state and independent schools, which has given me a strong understanding of the English education system and how to deliver it effectively.
I am a kind and nurturing teacher who helps each child develop a love of learning through play-based, spontaneous and structured activities. These experiences support the early skills that form the foundation for future learning.
I have been teaching in Early Years education for over 15 years, with much of my experience based in London.
My practice is strongly inspired by the Montessori approach, which places children at the very heart of everything we do.
I believe that childhood is the most important foundation for our shared future, and my classroom is a space of independence, creativity and love.
I have been working in childcare for 13 years. Working with children has changed my life; watching them grow and achieve their goals through the curriculum and through play makes me so happy.
Each day is different working with children. I look forward to expanding their knowledge and watching the outcome is so satisfying. What I like most is the children feeling free and being curious each and every day!
I have loved St James since I was a pupil here. It is a very calm and welcoming community which fosters a culture of collaboration and growth. The dedication of both the staff and pupils to learning creates an inspiring atmosphere.
Frequently Asked Questions about Little Shells Nursery at St James
What is the Age Range of Children that Little Shells Nursery at St James accepts?
Little Shells Nursery at St James accepts Children aged from 2 years 0 months to 4 years 11 months.
What Days & Hours is Little Shells Nursery at St James Open?
Little Shells Nursery at St James is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.
How many Children does Little Shells Nursery at St James have capacity for?
Little Shells Nursery at St James has capacity for a total of 35 Children.
How far is Little Shells Nursery at St James to the centre of London?
2.6 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact Little Shells Nursery at St James to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Little Shells Nursery at St James has an Enhanced Service - more info.