Woodentops Nurseries | Prep School, London

Our sister nursery Woodentops Abbeville opened in 2014, has 90 places and is situated at the edge of Abbeville Village. Our newest Nursery, Woodentops Old Town, opened in 2025. Our nurseries welcome babies from 6 months to 5 years.

The Woodentops Nurseries are an integral part of the White House family. Founded on the same values that have shaped the Preparatory School since 1985, Woodentops offers babies and young children a warm, nurturing start in life, in environments designed to feel like a natural extension of home.

Our nurseries are within beautiful historic buildings which provide a lovely homely feel. We have sympathetically converted and updated the buildings to offer large open plan layouts and light-filled rooms. For our youngest babies, we have dedicated sleep rooms which help them maintain their own routines while with us.

Where Are the Woodentops Nurseries Located?

Woodentops SW12 is co-located with the White House Preparatory School on Thornton Road in Clapham, making it a natural first step for families who go on to join the main school. Established in 2011, it is set within a beautiful Grade II listed Victorian villa and offers a homely, intimate setting for our youngest children.

Woodentops Abbeville opened in 2014 and is situated at the edge of Abbeville Village in SW4. With 90 places across four dedicated rooms, Abbeville offers a rich and structured environment as children grow, with a specialist Head of Creative Arts and Outdoor Learning, weekly forest school mornings, music, yoga, ballet, sports coaching, and modern languages all forming part of the curriculum for older children.

Woodentops Old Town is our newest addition, having opened in 2025. It brings the same warmth and ethos of the Woodentops family to a new community of families in the area.

Our family nursery. Your family nursery.

What Are the Nursery Environments Like?

Our gardens and outside play areas offer the children space to run around and explore. They are full of trees and greenery and enable the children to create their own adventures. Our miniature allotments let them try their hand at growing their own produce.

At Woodentops Abbeville, the outside space has been thoughtfully designed as a large sensory garden with full size trees, miniature allotment beds, a mud kitchen, and a jungle and Jurassic-themed play space in the internal courtyard. These environments are designed to spark imagination, encourage physical development, and give children a genuine connection with the natural world from their earliest years.

We select all of our staff very carefully and they play an important role in the happy and safe running of our Nursery.

In addition to being very experienced and well qualified they all share some important characteristics. They are truly passionate about working with young children. They bring smiles and enthusiasm with them every day and work hard to bring out the best in each child. They are creative, approachable and responsive. They are committed to supporting you and your family.

Can My Child Move from Woodentops into White House School?

For many families, Woodentops is the beginning of a longer journey with the White House community. Children attending Woodentops SW12 are given priority on the waiting list for entry to the Preparatory School, and the nursery is specifically co-located to make that transition as smooth as possible.

From age 2.5, nursery children can also begin attending Woodentops Kindergarten during term time, which provides their first experience of a more structured learning environment for up to 15 hours per week. This gentle introduction to school life means that by the time children move into Reception, they already feel confident, settled, and part of the White House family.

How Does Woodentops Help Children Settle In?

We understand that starting nursery is a big moment for children and parents alike. All new children at Woodentops are introduced to the nursery through a taster Stay and Play session, where parents are invited to stay alongside them. Following this, we arrange a home visit before a child’s first day, helping them feel familiar and reassured before they begin.

Our nurseries are open from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, for 50 weeks of the year. We are closed on bank holidays and for ten working days annually, usually five around Easter and five at Christmas.To find out more about Woodentops Nurseries and to arrange a visit, please visit the dedicated Woodentops website or contact the admissions team at admissions@whitehouseschool.com.