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Inspiring a love of learning since 1975

Fulham's trusted Montessori nursery

A warm setting in the heart of Fulham (SW6) for children aged two to five, with exceptional outdoor space — caring for local families for over fifty years.

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★★★★★ 5.0 from 20 Google reviews · Ages 2–5 · Funded hours available
Fulham's trusted Montessori nursery
Independent for over 50 years
For children aged 2 to 5
Exceptional outdoor space with 5-a-side-sized field
A safe haven in the heart of SW6
Welcome to Dawmouse

A trusted Montessori community in Fulham

For half a century our little nursery has been a gentle first step into the world for children across Fulham and the wider SW6 community, and while a great deal has changed since 1975, the heart of what we do has not: we follow the child, we take the time to know each family, and we let curiosity lead the way.

Set within the Brunswick Club on Haldane Road, Dawmouse is deliberately small, so that every child is known by name, every stage of their development is noticed and nurtured, and every parent feels part of a warm and familiar community rather than a number on a register.

Why families choose us

An education built around your child

Authentic Montessori

Child-led learning with beautiful, purposeful materials that let children discover concepts for themselves, at their own pace.

A nurturing, family feel

A small setting where every child is known by name and every parent is part of a close, familiar community.

A prepared environment

Calm, ordered rooms designed for independence, where children choose freely and learn to care for themselves and each other.

Ready for school & life

Children leave us confident, independent and genuinely excited to learn — beautifully prepared for the next step.

Our approach

Following the child, every day

Dr Maria Montessori believed that children learn best not by being told, but by doing — and everything about our day is shaped around that simple, powerful idea. Rather than a fixed timetable of instruction, our children move freely through a carefully prepared environment, choosing activities that meet exactly where they are in their development.

Mixed-age rooms where younger children learn from older ones
Practical life, sensorial, language, maths and cultural areas
Experienced, Montessori-trained practitioners
More about the Montessori method
A day at Dawmouse

Warm mornings, busy hands, happy days

Photographs only tell half the story, so take a minute to look around. Our days flow gently between focused work and free play, indoor discovery and time in our exceptional outdoor space, quiet concentration and shared song — a rhythm that gives children both freedom and a familiar routine.

Morning and full-day sessions, term time
Government funded hours welcomed for eligible families
Healthy snacks and a calm, home-from-home setting
Fees & funded hours
Loved by Fulham families

What our parents say

★★★★★

"Our experience with Dawmouse has been absolutely wonderful — such a warm, nurturing and supportive place for children to grow and thrive. The staff are truly exceptional and genuinely dedicated to every child."

Laura
★★★★★

"Dawmouse Montessori in Fulham has been wonderful for my niece, who absolutely loves it. The staff genuinely care about each child's happiness, and the large outdoor space is amazing and very rare in London."

Annabel Dawson
★★★★★

"Both my children had such a wonderful experience — a warm, friendly and nurturing environment where the staff truly care. The outdoor space is exceptional, probably the biggest nursery playground in Fulham!"

Aurélie Nuret-Angles
Read more reviews
This September

Come and see us at our Open Day

The best way to understand Dawmouse is to feel it for yourself. Join us this September to meet our team, explore the rooms and see the Montessori day in action — we would love to show you around.

Reserve your place
Visit us in SW6

Right in the heart of Fulham

You will find Dawmouse at the Brunswick Club on Haldane Road, just moments from Fulham Broadway — a friendly, familiar setting that has been part of the local community for fifty years.

Brunswick Club, 34 Haldane Road, Fulham, London SW6 7EU

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Frequently asked questions

Our thoughts on what we get asked the most

Does my child need to be potty trained before starting?

No — children do not need to be potty trained before they start with us. We have a nappy changing station, and when the time is right we will support you and your child through potty training, sharing what we have learned over the years with any family who would like the help.

Do the children just play all day?

Play is how young children learn, but there is far more to a Montessori day than simply playing. The children are free to explore and choose activities that interest them, and though the materials can look like toys they are purposeful activities across practical life, mathematics, language and the senses, arranged on the shelves from simpler to more challenging so each child builds skills and independence at their own pace.

Why can't my child read yet?

Reading, writing and number recognition come when a child is ready, and pushing them too early tends to discourage rather than help. From the moment a child joins us the environment is quietly preparing them: activities are laid out left to right in readiness for reading and writing, sensorial work strengthens the muscles used for writing, and sorting and matching introduce early mathematics and problem-solving without a worksheet in sight.

How do you prepare children for school?

We do not like to force children, but we know some go on to schools that assess for entry, so we help them get ready — recognising letters and numbers in the environment, mark-making and tracing, and plenty of open-ended conversation, all underpinned by the grace and courtesy that serves a child anywhere. Over the years our children have gone on to many local schools, and we are always happy to talk through which ones might suit yours.

How do you manage children's behaviour?

Behaviour is usually a young child's way of expressing a feeling or a need, so we start by getting to know each child as an individual, and when someone is finding things hard we listen, talk with their parents, and give them a little space to reflect on their choices. We often use books such as The Colour Monster to help a child name what they are feeling and then work out why, which builds the self-awareness that heads off a good deal of the difficulty in the first place.

My child says they did 'nothing' today — is that true?

Almost never. Young children often simply don't remember, or don't fancy recounting their morning, so we hold a circle time after lunch to talk through what everyone has done. We also share weekly updates through the My Montessori Child app, showing what your child has worked on and how they are progressing, and we try to send a note of the next day's planned activities so you have a gentle steer for the conversation at home.

Do the children go outside every day?

Yes, weather permitting. We are fortunate to have a large outdoor playground, and we aim for at least half an hour outside each day — often more on fine days, when we can bring the classroom outdoors altogether. On the wettest days it might be only a few minutes of fresh air before we move to our indoor gymnasium, but getting outside every day matters to us.

Why has my child come home with their shoes on the wrong feet?

Because we encourage the children to do things for themselves, dressing included. It is not always perfect and it can take a while at first, but giving a child the time and space to manage their own coat and shoes is how the skill — and the confidence that comes with it — takes root, and the little mix-ups sort themselves out as they practise.

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