READY STEADY GO
South Hampstead
21 Alexandra Road, London NW8 0DP
Opened in 2010, RSG South Hampstead is located in a bright, open-plan converted former church on Alexandra Road, minutes walk from South Hampstead station.
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The centre has separate spaces for younger and older children, allowing each age group to follow the same approach in an environment suited to its stage of development. Children have room to play, create and investigate indoors, while the centre’s outdoors provides opportunities to explore and learn in the air.
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Alexandra Road was rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted following its inspection on 17 October 2024.
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Centre Details
Ages
Pre-school from age two to five, with the option to stay for a Reception year.
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Your Child's Day
Children aged two generally begin with mornings from 9am to 12pm and move to full days from 9am to 2pm when they are ready. Children aged three and over attend from 9am to 2pm.
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Early Birds & Clubs
Early Birds dropoff is available from 8.15am.
After-school clubs run from 2pm to 3pm.
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Days & Terms
Monday to Friday during term time.
Playweeks are available during most holiday times.
The local area
South Hampstead is a quiet, well-connected north-west London neighbourhood; residential and neighbourly.
Conveniently located on Alexandra Road, just a few minutes’ walk from South Hampstead Overground station via Loudoun Road. Swiss Cottage Underground station is also around an eight-minute walk away, with several nearby bus stops providing connections across North and Central London.
Alexandra Road Park, with playgrounds, grass and a woodland walk, is nearby, while older RSG children use Hampstead Heath for Forest School and outdoor learning.
'Teaching is inspirational throughout the provision. Staff have a wonderful ability to engage with children, capture their interest and ignite their love of learning.'
St John's Wood
'Safeguarding and children's welfare are given the highest priority.'
St John's Wood
'Partnerships with parents is excellent. Parents speak highly of the staff and the care they provide.'
Primrose Hill
'Exceptionally broad and ambitious curriculum, ensures that all children make excellent progress.'
Fitzroy Road
'There is an exceptional key-person system in place. Staff are warm and patient. They embed nurturing care routines to form strong bonds with children.'
St John's Wood
'Staff are dedicated to creating the best possible environment for the children.'
Primrose Hill
'A warm and caring environment, which enables children of all ages to feel safe and secure.'
Primrose Hill
'The children have immense fun and learn about the wonders of the natural world.'
St John's Wood
'Children learn about families from a
range of backgrounds, and there are exceptional links with the local community.'
St John's Wood
'The highly ambitious curriculum and superb teaching is consistent across all of the rooms.'
St John's Wood
"Children are enthralled as they explore and investigate an exciting range of opportunities in the carefully organised indoor and outdoor environments."
Primrose Hill
"Children thrive in this outstanding nursery."
St John's Wood
"The dedicated manager and her staff provide a highly successful, challenging curriculum that builds on what children know and can do."
Primrose Hill
"A happy and loving place, where children learn independence, kindness and a love of learning."
St John's Wood
"Children are incredibly happy and stimulated in their environment."
Primrose Hill
"There are many opportunities for children to become independent learners and to be responsible."
Primrose Hill
"Older children are exceptionally well prepared for school."
St John's Wood
"Children play in a vibrant and harmonious environment that promotes their individual interests and ways of learning."
St John's Wood
"Children demonstrate a broad understanding and develop high-level skills to support them in their future learning."
Primrose Hill
"Teaching is superb. Staff continually model the use of good language."
Primrose Hill
"Inspirational leadership, a highly motivated and reflective staff team, and rigorous self-evaluation at all levels, contribute to exceptionally high standards."
Primrose Hill
"Children are extremely happy in their environment and demonstrate high levels of confidence and resilience."
Primrose Hill
"Staff take every opportunity to stimulate children's interests and deepen their knowledge."
Fitzroy Road
"Children's behaviour is excellent. They show immense respect for their carers and each other."
Fitzroy Road
"The standard of care and education is exemplary."
Fitzroy Road
"An exceptionally varied and exciting programme of play and activities ignite their curiosity and love of learning."
St John's Wood
Life at Ready Steady Go
Ready Steady Go is one school, sharing the same ethos, curriculum and educational oversight across our centres. Our approach centres on holistic development, understanding that true learning happens when children feel secure, valued, and genuinely excited about discovery.
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Your child's day
A day at Alexandra Road balances planned teaching with child-initiated play. The team prepares activities around the children’s interests and the seven areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage, while leaving time and space for children to pursue their own ideas.
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Children take part in small-group learning, stories, songs, creative work, cooking, movement and practical investigations. Phonics begins through songs, stories, rhymes and listening activities, building the foundations for later reading. Reception-age children move on to more formal phonics and early reading as part of their preparation for school.
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Dance and movement are a regular part of the RSG curriculum. At Alexandra Road, these sessions take place within the centre, giving children opportunities to develop coordination, spatial awareness and confidence through movement.
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Children also spend time outdoors and make regular use of the local area. These experiences broaden their understanding of their community and give them opportunities to observe, question and explore beyond the classroom.
Older children also take part in Forest School sessions at Hampstead Heath, where they can explore the natural world, take appropriate risks and learn through direct experience.
Ready... Steady... Go!
Families interested in Ready Steady Go are warmly encouraged to arrange a visit to our centres and experience the environment first-hand.
Our admissions team is available to guide you through the process, answer questions and help you find the right Ready Steady Go setting for your child.
Telephone: 020 7586 5862
Email: admissions@readysteadygo.org
The South Hampstead team
The centre is led by Isolde who has more than 15 years’ experience in early years education, including many years with Ready Steady Go. She holds Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Early Years Professional Status (EYPS).
Her deputies are Emma and Sophie who have more than 30 years’ experience in early years education between them, most of it with Ready Steady Go. Emma holds a CACHE Level 3 qualification, and Sophie holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
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Emily has been with Ready Steady Go for more than five years leads the morning group at our Alexandra Road centre. She holds a BA in Early Childhood and Youth Studies.
