About Dawmouse

A little nursery with a big heart

For fifty years we have been quietly getting on with the thing we love most — helping the children of Fulham take their first happy steps into the world.

Our story

Caring for Fulham families since 1975

Dawmouse opened its doors in 1975, and in the decades since we have welcomed generation after generation of local children through them — some of the little ones arriving with us today are the sons and daughters of children we once cared for ourselves. That continuity is something we treasure, because it means we have never had to chase trends or reinvent who we are; we have simply kept faith with a way of nurturing children that works.

We remain, by choice, a small and close-knit setting within the Brunswick Club on Haldane Road, right in the heart of SW6. Being small is not a limitation for us but the whole point of us: it is what lets every practitioner know every child properly, notice the quiet ones as readily as the confident ones, and greet every parent by name at the door.

What we believe

The values that guide our days

The child comes first

Everything we do begins with the individual child in front of us — their pace, their interests, their next small step — rather than a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

Warmth above all

A child who feels safe, known and loved is a child who is ready to learn. Kindness is not a nice extra here; it is the foundation of everything.

Independence with gentleness

We give children the freedom to try, to struggle a little, and to succeed on their own — always with a caring adult close by should they need one.

Ofsted registered and proudly inspected. As a registered early-years provider we meet the standards families rightly expect, and our five-star reputation across twenty Google reviews reflects the trust local parents place in us year after year.

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.