Full-day nursery in Newington, Southwark
1st Place at the Elephant
15 Hampton Street, LONDON, SE17 3AN · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Good
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since July 2023Reference 2741844Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 13 May 2025Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places100 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 26 March 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
| Age | Full day | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | £104£10.40 an hour | £13 |
From nursery website, November 2026 · see the fees page. Price per hour is the day rate over a 10-hour day, from the nursery's opening hours.
- Registration fee
- £25
Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 08:00–18:00
- Ages
- 6 months to 5 years
- Weeks open
- 50 a year
- Sessions
- Full day and per hour
Getting there
15 Hampton Street, LONDON, SE17 3AN · More nurseries in SE17
Stations
- Elephant & Castle6 min walk · 0.2 miles
- KenningtonNo step-free access9 min walk · 0.4 miles
- BoroughStep-free access18 min walk · 0.7 miles
Buses
20 bus stops within 400 m, including Heygate Street, Larcom Street and Hampton Street.
Parks and playgrounds
- Elephant Park2 min walk
- St Mary's Churchyard3 min walk
- Pullens Open Space5 min walk
- Wansey Gardens6 min walk
- Falmouth Road Gardens6 min walk
- Playground1 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Southwark there are about 3.1 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
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Write a reviewAbout 1st Place at the Elephant
1st Place at the Elephant is a full-day nursery at 15 Hampton Street, LONDON, SE17 3AN, in Newington, Southwark. It is registered for 100 children and takes children aged 6 months to 5 years. It opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri, 50 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in May 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. Its published full-day fees range from £104 to £130 (nursery website, November 2026). It offers funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 4.1 from 13 reviews (November 2026). It is run by 1st Place Children and Parents' Centre Ltd.
Run by 1st Place Children and Parents' Centre Ltd (company), which runs 2 nurseries.
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
Its website says the nursery uses Forest school, Reggio Emilia inspired and play-based EYFS curriculum approaches. The 2025 Ofsted inspection rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good. Its website also names a sensory room, library visits and woodland trips.
- Forest schoolSource: nursery website
- Reggio Emilia inspiredSource: nursery website
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
Food
Meals are included in the fees. Its website says meals are cooked on site, with a vegetarian menu, halal meals and an allergy-aware kitchen.
- Meals cooked on siteSource: nursery website
- Vegetarian menuSource: nursery website
- Halal mealsSource: nursery website
- Allergy-aware kitchenSource: nursery website
- Meals included in feesSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website says the nursery has its own garden and a growing or allotment area, and makes regular park trips. It also lists local outings and trips.
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Regular park tripsSource: nursery website
- Growing / allotment areaSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says settling in starts with a home visit so the child can meet their Key Person at home, followed by a gradual settling-in period at the nursery. Its website also describes a key person system.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Open all yearSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Nappies and wipes providedSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- Sensory roomSource: nursery website
Safety
The 2025 Ofsted inspection found safeguarding effective.
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Library visitsSource: nursery website
- Woodland tripsSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says families book a tour, then attend a pre-admissions meeting before the child starts. The registration fee is £25. The nursery accepts government-funded hours for working parents of children from 9 months, funded hours for 2-year-olds, the universal 15 funded hours and 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds, and Tax-Free Childcare.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place at the ElephantThis nursery | Good | £104 | 08:00–18:00 | 6 mo–5 yrs | This nursery |
| Little Bear's In Elephant And CastleFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Kido Elephant ParkFull-day nursery | Good | £105 | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| St Johns Pre SchoolSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| Rockingham Community Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–16:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| Rockingham Community Pre-school PlaygroupFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–17:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| Hurley Pre-SchoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 21 mo–5 yrs | 0.3 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Newington8
- All nurseries in Southwark105
- All nurseries in SE179
- Nurseries near Elephant & Castle station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Crampton Primary Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Outstandinginspected April 2024 0.1 miles
- Imperial Oak School ages 4–11 0.3 miles
- Victory Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected May 2023 0.3 miles
- Robert Browning Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected December 2025 0.4 miles
- St Paul's Church of England Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected July 2023 0.4 miles
- St Jude's Church of England Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected January 2026 0.4 miles
- Keyworth Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected September 2023 0.4 miles
- Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected May 2025 0.4 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
How much does 1st Place at the Elephant cost?
1st Place at the Elephant publishes these fees: full day £104 for all ages, full day £117 for all ages, full day £130 for all ages and per hour £13 for all ages (nursery website, November 2026). Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can reduce what you pay.
Does 1st Place at the Elephant offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. 1st Place at the Elephant offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does 1st Place at the Elephant take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. 1st Place at the Elephant offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does 1st Place at the Elephant offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. 1st Place at the Elephant offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are 1st Place at the Elephant's opening hours?
1st Place at the Elephant opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri.
Is 1st Place at the Elephant open all year?
Yes, 1st Place at the Elephant is open 50 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.
What ages does 1st Place at the Elephant take?
1st Place at the Elephant takes children aged 6 months to 5 years.
What is 1st Place at the Elephant's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated 1st Place at the Elephant Good at its inspection on 13 May 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can 1st Place at the Elephant take?
1st Place at the Elephant is registered with Ofsted for up to 100 children at any one time.
Are meals included at 1st Place at the Elephant?
Yes. Meals are included in the fees at 1st Place at the Elephant.
Does 1st Place at the Elephant accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. 1st Place at the Elephant accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Is there a registration fee or deposit at 1st Place at the Elephant?
Yes. 1st Place at the Elephant lists a registration fee of £25.
Who runs 1st Place at the Elephant?
1st Place at the Elephant is run by 1st Place Children and Parents' Centre Ltd, which runs 2 nurseries.
What approach does 1st Place at the Elephant follow?
1st Place at the Elephant's website describes its approach as: Forest school, Reggio Emilia inspired and Play-based EYFS curriculum.
Does 1st Place at the Elephant have outdoor space?
1st Place at the Elephant lists: Own garden, Regular park trips, Growing / allotment area and Local outings and trips.
Tools for parents in Southwark
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in SouthwarkFees by age in Southwark
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.1stplace.uk.com) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 12 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
- From the nursery's website, with the page link and date checked
Last checked 12 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2741844 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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