Trust & Standards

Recognised beyond Ofsted.

Alongside our Good rating from Ofsted, we hold a set of independent accreditations — each one earned by choosing to be assessed against a demanding external standard, and passing.

What it means to be accredited.

Accreditations are awarded by independent organisations — not Ofsted — when a nursery can demonstrate it meets specific standards in a particular area. They're applied for, assessed, and awarded. They're not automatic.

Holding an accreditation means we sought external scrutiny in an area we believe matters, and we passed. We think that's worth knowing.

Our most recent inspection rated us Good across all areas. Accreditations sit alongside that — recognition in specific fields, from other bodies.

First Steps Award

Healthy Early Years London

Awarded by the Healthy Early Years London programme

The Healthy Early Years London programme supports nurseries and childcare settings across London to improve children's health and wellbeing. The First Steps Award is the entry point — awarded to settings that have demonstrated a commitment to children's physical health, healthy eating, emotional wellbeing, and active play.

Achieving the First Steps Award means we've been assessed against London-wide health criteria and found to be meeting them. It's a signal to families that children's health — not just their learning — is taken seriously here.

Bronze Award

Healthy Early Years London

Awarded by the Healthy Early Years London programme

The Bronze Award builds on the First Steps accreditation. Settings that achieve it have demonstrated sustained and embedded practice across children's health and wellbeing — not just a one-off compliance check, but evidence of a genuine culture of healthy living.

Holding both the First Steps and the Bronze Award means our approach to children's health has been assessed twice over, against an increasingly demanding standard.

Communication

COLTALE

Awarded by the City of London Corporation

COLTALE — City of London Talks and Listens Enthusiastically — is a communication-focused accreditation supporting speech, language and communication development in early years settings across the City.

Achieving it means our team has been trained and assessed in creating a language-rich environment — the everyday conversations, storytelling and listening that help every child find their voice.

Questions about our standards?

Read our full Ofsted report and policies, or get in touch — we're always happy to talk through how we work.

Contact us Ofsted reports →
Inside the Smithfield House baby room

14 West Smithfield · London EC1A 9HY

Smithfield House Children's Nursery bus showing the address 14 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9HY