# Hatching Dragons City

Hatching Dragons City is a full-day nursery at The Ironmongers Co, Ironmongers Hall, Shaftesbury Place, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AA, in City of London. It is registered for 60 children and takes children aged 6 months to 5 years. It opens 08:00–18:30, Mon–Fri, 51 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in October 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. 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 4.4 from 13 reviews (November 2026).

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/hatching-dragons-city-2668813  
Last checked 12 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: The Ironmongers Co, Ironmongers Hall, Shaftesbury Place, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AA
- Ages: 6 months to 5 years
- Opening hours: 08:00–18:30, Mon–Fri
- Weeks open: 51 a year
- Registered places: 60
- Funded childcare: funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds
- Tax-Free Childcare: yes
- Phone: 0330 818 0066
- Website: https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london
- Ofsted URN: 2668813

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 18 October 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

- Quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2668813

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since May 2022 (Reference 2668813). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2668813)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 18 October 2024). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2668813)
- Registered places: 60 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2668813)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 20 October 2026). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1580601)

## Fees

- Charge on funded hours: £0.90 (per hour)
- Charge on funded hours: £0.70 (per hour)

Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours.

Fees: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

- Monday to Friday: 08:00–18:30
- Ages: 6 months to 5 years
- Weeks open: 51 a year

## Getting there

Address: The Ironmongers Co, Ironmongers Hall, Shaftesbury Place, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AA

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.518156,-0.096262

- Station: Barbican, 0.2 miles
- Station: St. Paul's, 0.2 miles
- Station: Moorgate, 0.3 miles
- 20 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Postman's Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: St Anne & St Agnes, 0.1 miles
- Park: Church Yard of St Mary Aldermanbury, 0.2 miles
- Park: Princess Alice Garden, 0.2 miles
- Park: Smithfield Rotunda Garden, 0.2 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.3 miles

© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In City of London there are about 0.6 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 4.4 out of 5 from 13 reviews (as of 12 November 2026)

## About: a day here

### Learning

The nursery's approach, as named on its website, is Bilingual and HighScope. The Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good. Activities named on its website include music classes, children's yoga, language classes, dance and movement, drama, cooking activities and STEM activities.

- Bilingual (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- HighScope (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)

### Food

Its website says breakfast is provided.

- Breakfast provided (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)

### Outdoors

Its website says the nursery makes regular park trips and local outings and trips.

- Regular park trips (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)
- Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)

### Settling in

Its website says the nursery uses a key person system.

- Key person system (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)
- Flexible sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Open all year (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/funding)
- Late pick-up (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Sibling discount (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Holiday club (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)

### Safety

At its 2024 Ofsted inspection, safeguarding was judged effective.

### Extras and activities

- Music classes (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Children's yoga (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)
- Language classes (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Dance and movement (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)
- Drama (source: nursery website, https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Cooking activities (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)
- STEM activities (source: nursery website, https://resources.hatching-dragons.com/en/en/hatching-dragons-optional-extras-charges-policy)

### Getting a place

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 for 3-4 year olds, 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds, and Tax-Free Childcare.

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charterhouse Square School |  | 3–11 |  | yes | 0.2 miles |
| Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre | Primary | 0–11 | Good (September 2022) | yes | 0.3 miles |
| St Paul's Cathedral School |  | 4–13 |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| City of London Primary Academy, Islington | Primary | 4–11 | Standards maintained (March 2025) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Dallington School |  | 3–11 |  | yes | 0.5 miles |
| St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (June 2023) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| The Lyceum |  | 3–11 |  |  | 0.6 miles |
| St Luke's CofE Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (May 2023) | yes | 0.6 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Newpark Childcare Centre](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/newpark-childcare-centre-ey284463) | Outstanding |  |  | 0.1 miles |
| [Barbican Playgroup](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/barbican-playgroup-122756) | Report card Dec 2025 |  | 09:00–14:45 | 0.2 miles |
| [City Child Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/city-child-nursery-ey348911) | Good |  | 07:30–18:30 | 0.2 miles |
| [Smithfield House Children's Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/smithfield-house-childrens-nursery-ey425982) | Good |  | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [Golden Lane Childrens Centre](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/golden-lane-childrens-centre-ey371508) | Good |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| [The Children's Centre Goldman Sachs](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-childrens-centre-goldman-sachs-2531041) | Good |  |  | 0.4 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Hatching Dragons City offer 30 funded hours?

Yes. Hatching Dragons City offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds. It charges £0.90 per hour on funded hours for extras such as meals and activities.

### Does Hatching Dragons City take funded 2-year-olds?

Yes. Hatching Dragons City offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.

### Does Hatching Dragons City offer funded hours from 9 months?

Yes. Hatching Dragons City offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.

### What are Hatching Dragons City's opening hours?

Hatching Dragons City opens 08:00–18:30, Mon–Fri.

### Is Hatching Dragons City open all year?

Yes, Hatching Dragons City is open 51 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.

### What ages does Hatching Dragons City take?

Hatching Dragons City takes children aged 6 months to 5 years.

### What is Hatching Dragons City's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Hatching Dragons City Good at its inspection on 18 October 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can Hatching Dragons City take?

Hatching Dragons City is registered with Ofsted for up to 60 children at any one time.

### Does Hatching Dragons City accept Tax-Free Childcare?

Yes. Hatching Dragons City accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.

### What approach does Hatching Dragons City follow?

Hatching Dragons City's website describes its approach as: Bilingual and HighScope.

### Does Hatching Dragons City have outdoor space?

Hatching Dragons City lists: Regular park trips and Local outings and trips.

### What is the nearest station to Hatching Dragons City?

Barbican is the nearest station we know of, 0.2 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact Hatching Dragons City?

You can call 0330 818 0066 and visit www.hatching-dragons.com.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2668813)
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.hatching-dragons.com), as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.hatching-dragons.com/nurseries/city-of-london)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 12 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Hatching+Dragons+City+of+London+%7C+Kindergarten+and+Nursery+School+in+Barbican&query_place_id=ChIJN-eLjw8bdkgR4i0fZxixZ7Y)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.