Lambeth is quickly becoming one of the most sought after boroughs in London. From well-established to rapid regeneration areas, this large borough extends from high rise flats in South Bank to the leafy suburbs and quiet residential estates of Streatham in South London. With new homes on the rise, it is important to get an informed picture of what the area offers for young families, first time buyers and relocating Londoners. Here is your location guide to nursery and primary schools in Lambeth, as well as some handy resources to make sure your child gets their first choice.
Nursery schools in Lambeth: What to know
The Lambeth Council website is a good place to start as it contains an index of council funded nursery schools. However you can find a more in depth list of playgroups, preschools and nursery schools in Lambeth on Mumsnet broken down by area. Another great resource is Young Lambeth – a website managed by Families Information Service (FIS) in the London Borough of Lambeth. Here you can find guidance about early learning for 2, 3 and 4 year olds as well as a handy booklet which contains information on:
- How to apply for an early learning place
- How to choose early learning for your child
- How early learning will help your child develop and learn
- Practical support and information
Primary schools in Lambeth: What to know
Lambeth is populated by 64 primary schools extending from South Bank in Central London to Streatham Vale in South London. Most of these are concentrated around the Oval, Kennington and Brixton area while others are scattered evenly over the rest of the borough. 2017’s National Offer Day figures showed 86 per cent of youngsters were given their first preference primary school, increasing by 2 per cent last year. So despite a high majority receiving their first choice, it is important to get an early start when applying for schools.
Helpful resources to get you started
As proximity to your residence is a key factor in your child’s eligibility for a school, a handy resource available is Lambeth Council’s interactive digital map. The map shows the location of educational facilities including libraries, special schools, sure start children’s centres and secondary schools. While Ofsted look after a school’s official rating, Netmums’ parent forums give a closer picture of what likeminded-parents think of the school, as well an opportunity to participate in conversation. Rightmove’s School Checker is also a handy resource for detailed information about schools, admission criteria and academic performance in reports for a local area.
When to apply for nursery and primary schools
Key dates for primary school entry
When applying for your child's primary school reception class, you should receive an email after 5pm on 18 April with the outcome place if you applied before the deadline of 15 January. You can then accept the offer by 2 May if applying to start September of that year.
Key dates for nursery school entry
Make sure to get your application form in before 12 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2017 so it will not be treated as late. Once you have applied for schools of choice, the deadline for applications is around mid-January for your child to start primary school in September. You should hear back mid-April.
Oval Quarter, Lambeth
The Oval Quarter development, nestled between Clapham, Brixton, Stockwell and Kennington, is in an ideal position to enjoy the wide number of schools, preschools and libraries at Lambeth’s disposal. With just 9 three bedroom homes remaining and with shares starting from £175,625, Oval Quarter could be the perfect place to raise your family.
*Image by Su--May via Flickr Creative Commons