Our Nursery School started on this site in 1914. Our founders Rachel and Margaret McMillan were sisters who believed that children needed the opportunity to develop and learn by being healthy, clean and well fed. Both sisters were suffragists and founding members of The Independent Labour Party.
At the time (the early 20th Century) the sisters worked in both Bradford and Deptford where children were working in mills and factories and living in very poor, overcrowded housing.As a result they were often ill, malnourished and under developed. In 1910 Rachel and Margaret started a clinic in Deptford to treat the children's illnesses.
At the time (the early 20th Century) the sisters worked in both Bradford and Deptford where children were working in mills and factories and living in very poor, overcrowded housing.As a result they were often ill, malnourished and under developed. In 1910 Rachel and Margaret started a clinic in Deptford to treat the children's illnesses.
Services
They are responsible, along with the Headteacher for the strategic direction of the school. 2. The governing body is accountable for the performance of the school to parents and the wider community. 3. They act as a 'critical friend' using their expertise to challenge, advise and support the school to improve.
Here at Rachel McMillan we believe that working collaboratively with other schools and organisations enhances and supports the quality of work that we can do to benefit our children. STEEP is a partnership of six like-minded London Nursery Schools and Children's Centres, across two London Boroughs, Greenwich and Lewisham, each with a long history of high quality Early Years provision.
Some children come in the morning, some in the afternoon and some are here all day so they are not all here at the same time. Our children move from the Nursery School in the school year that they turn 5 years old to a wide variety of local primary schools. Our classrooms are called Shelters.
This was the name given to the rooms by our founder Margaret McMillan as when the school was first built the rooms were completely open on one side as she believed that playing outside and access to the open air was really good for children.Today each shelter has large doors or folding windows that open up onto the garden.
This was the name given to the rooms by our founder Margaret McMillan as when the school was first built the rooms were completely open on one side as she believed that playing outside and access to the open air was really good for children.Today each shelter has large doors or folding windows that open up onto the garden.
Children may be eligible under the "Together for Twos" scheme for 15 hours of free early education from the term after they have turned two years old. Information on eligibility is available at Rachel McMillan or any local Children's Centre. Together for Twos' places and applications will need to be discussed directly with the office team.
We offer a before and after school hours childcare service known as 'Extended Day'. You can buy a variety of different sessions but these hours must be a regular arrangement and are not available on an ad-hoc basis. Please contact the school office, if you would like to know the cost of this service or information on how to book these sessions.
Reviews (7)
Apoorva Gupta
Jul 08, 2021
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Zita Vasas
Dec 20, 2020
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This is a fantastic place! We moved our son there when he was 3.5 years old and he loved it from the first day. Loads of space for the children to be active, plenty of freedom so that they can become independent and many interesting activities. Children are allowed to play outside whenever, and the garden is huge, full of exciting stuff. The teachers are great, many of them have been working there for over 10 years and you can tell that they enjoy what they do. When the nursery reopened after the covid lockdown, my son was counting the days until he could go back!
Slava Price
Dec 16, 2020
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My two daughters both attended Rachel McMillan nursery from age of two. This was not their first nursery as they were in a form of childcare from the age of six months. We moved them to Rachel McMillan after having a very mixed experience in other local and apparently also ‘outstanding’ nurseries.
From very first day we have notice one very important difference in Rachel McMillan setting – the people in Rachel McMillan worked as a team with sole focus on children wellbeing. This principle was applied as much in my girls’ classrooms (shelters) as outside in the vast and well thought out
From very first day we have notice one very important difference in Rachel McMillan setting – the people in Rachel McMillan worked as a team with sole focus on children wellbeing. This principle was applied as much in my girls’ classrooms (shelters) as outside in the vast and well thought out
Akosua Yeboah
Sep 24, 2017
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Shalom Adjei
Aug 27, 2016
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Jodie Goddard
Aug 02, 2016
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Rachel McMillan
Jul 26, 2015
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Ofsted have said that the nursery is Outstanding on their last 3 visits. This is a nursery where children and families are hugely valued. The staff are extremely experienced, they follow the children's passions and interests in order to provide a play based, child friendly environment and experience that ensures all the children do well.