Sessional pre-school in South Hampstead, Camden
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood
21 Alexandra Road, London, NW8 0DP · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Outstanding
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- 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.
What Ofsted says it does well
“Leaders have fantastic oversight of the provision.”
“Teaching is inspirational throughout the provision.”
“Staff are highly in tune with children's current interests.”
Exact words from the Ofsted report of 17 October 2024. Read the full report on Ofsted.
Official records
Fees
- Deposit
- £2,000
Funded hours: 2-year-olds, 30 hours
Fees: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Nurseries in Camden that publish fees charge £76.80–£108 a day for under-2s (4 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 08:15–15:00
- Ages
- 2 years to 5 years
- Weeks open
- Term time only
Getting there
21 Alexandra Road, London, NW8 0DP · More nurseries in NW8
Stations
- South Hampstead3 min walk · 0.1 miles
- Swiss Cottage7 min walk · 0.3 miles
- St. John's Wood11 min walk · 0.4 miles
Buses
11 bus stops within 400 m, including Boundary Road, Finchley Road and South Hampstead Station / Loudoun Road.
Parks and playgrounds
- Alexandra Road Park4 min walk
- The Meadow5 min walk
- Swiss Cottage Open Space7 min walk
- Primrose Hill11 min walk
- Playground3 min walk
- Playground 54 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 Camden there are about 3.2 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 READY STEADY GO St John's Wood
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood is a sessional pre-school at 21 Alexandra Road, London, NW8 0DP, in South Hampstead, Camden. It is registered for 47 children and takes children aged 2 years to 5 years. It opens 08:15–15:00, Mon–Fri, term time only. Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection in October 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 6 reviews (November 2026). It is run by Ready Steady Go Pre-Schools Limited.
Run by Ready Steady Go Pre-Schools Limited (school), which runs 5 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 approach includes forest school, a play-based EYFS curriculum, a school readiness programme and early phonics, with SEND support, an inclusive setting, dance and movement, cooking activities and woodland trips. Ofsted's 2024 inspection rated overall effectiveness and quality of education Outstanding.
- Forest schoolSource: nursery website
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
- Early phonicsSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website says the nursery has its own garden, daily outdoor play, and local outings and trips.
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Daily outdoor playSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says the child and family are invited to spend a morning at the pre-school before starting, then are guided through accompanied group classes, orientation and settling into the routine. Care includes a key person system and settling-in sessions.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Term-time onlySource: nursery website
- Early drop-offSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
- Small group sizesSource: nursery website
- Holiday clubSource: nursery website
- After-school clubSource: nursery website
- Breakfast clubSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- SEND supportSource: nursery website
- Inclusive settingSource: nursery website
Safety
Ofsted's 2024 inspection found safeguarding effective.
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Dance and movementSource: nursery website
- Cooking activitiesSource: nursery website
- Woodland tripsSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says applicants enquire or request an application form, complete it, then attend a visit with the principal or deputy. A £2000 deposit confirms a place after an offer, but funded places need no deposit. The nursery has a waiting list and accepts funded hours for 2-year-olds, the universal 15 funded hours for 3-4 year olds and 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| READY STEADY GO St John's WoodThis nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 08:15–15:00 | 2–5 yrs | This nursery |
| Bright Horizons St John's Wood Day Nursery and PreschoolFull-day nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.2 miles |
| Swiss Cottage NurserySessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–21:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| Beckett House Montessori Abbey RoadFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.3 miles |
| Gan YeladimFull-day nursery | Requires improvement | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 6 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
| Pippin NurseryFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 2–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
| Let's Leap @ Arnold House SchoolFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.5 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in South Hampstead14
- All nurseries in Camden71
- All nurseries in NW816
- Nurseries near South Hampstead station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Swiss Cottage School - Development & Research Centre ages 4–19Ofsted: School remains Outstandinginspected March 2023 0.3 miles
- Broadhurst School ages 2–5has a nursery class 0.3 miles
- Ormiston Beachcroft Academy ages 5–16Ofsted: Goodinspected April 2024 0.3 miles
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, NW3 Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected November 2024 0.4 miles
- South Hampstead High School GDST ages 4–19 0.4 miles
- The American School in London ages 4–18 0.4 miles
- Trevor-Roberts School ages 4–13 0.4 miles
- The Hall School ages 4–13 0.5 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.
Does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. READY STEADY GO St John's Wood offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. READY STEADY GO St John's Wood offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
What are READY STEADY GO St John's Wood's opening hours?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood opens 08:15–15:00, Mon–Fri.
Is READY STEADY GO St John's Wood open all year?
No. READY STEADY GO St John's Wood is open term time only.
What ages does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood take?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood takes children aged 2 years to 5 years.
What is READY STEADY GO St John's Wood's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated READY STEADY GO St John's Wood Outstanding at its inspection on 17 October 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can READY STEADY GO St John's Wood take?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood is registered with Ofsted for up to 47 children at any one time.
Is there a registration fee or deposit at READY STEADY GO St John's Wood?
Yes. READY STEADY GO St John's Wood lists a deposit of £2,000.
Who runs READY STEADY GO St John's Wood?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood is run by Ready Steady Go Pre-Schools Limited, which runs 5 nurseries.
What approach does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood follow?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood's website describes its approach as: Forest school, Play-based EYFS curriculum, School readiness programme and Early phonics.
Does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood have outdoor space?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood lists: Own garden, Daily outdoor play and Local outings and trips.
Does READY STEADY GO St John's Wood support children with SEND?
READY STEADY GO St John's Wood lists: SEND support and Inclusive setting.
What is the nearest station to READY STEADY GO St John's Wood?
South Hampstead is the nearest station we know of, under 0.1 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact READY STEADY GO St John's Wood?
You can call 020 7586 5862 and visit www.readysteadygo.org.
Tools for parents in Camden
- 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 CamdenFees by age in Camden
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.readysteadygo.org) · 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.
- Quotes from Ofsted inspection reports, 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
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
Last checked 12 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2672858 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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