How to Choose a Bilingual Nursery in London: A Parent's Guide

Choosing a nursery is one of the most significant decisions you will make in your child's early years. When bilingual education is part of the picture, there are additional questions to consider — from the quality of language provision to whether a nursery's approach fits how your family uses language at home.

Start with the language model

Full immersion — practitioners speak only the target language throughout the day. English is not used in sessions. Children acquire the second language through routine, repetition, and context. This approach is particularly effective for children who have strong English exposure outside nursery.

Dual language — sessions alternate between English and the target language, either by time of day, by activity, or by practitioner. This is a gentler introduction and suits families who want structured bilingual exposure without full immersion.

A smaller number of nurseries use a language enrichment model, where the second language is taught as a subject for part of the day rather than used as the medium of instruction. Ask nurseries directly which model they use and how they handle the transition from home language to nursery language.

Check the Ofsted rating — but understand what it means

For nurseries registered with Ofsted, the inspection rating (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate) is an important baseline. Ofsted inspects against the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and inspectors are not bilingual education specialists — a Good or Outstanding rating reflects overall provision, not the quality of language teaching specifically. Use the Ofsted rating as a floor, not a ceiling.

Independent schools, including some bilingual schools, are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted, and use different grade scales.

Ask about the practitioners

• Are the bilingual sessions led by native or near-native speakers of the target language?
• What are practitioners' qualifications — in early years, in language teaching, or both?
• Is there a consistent lead practitioner for the target language, or does it rotate between staff?
• How does the nursery handle staff absences — is there always cover from a speaker of the target language?

For Mandarin in particular, ask whether practitioners speak standard Mandarin (Putonghua) or a regional dialect.

Consider the practicalities

Funded hours. All three- and four-year-olds in England are entitled to at least 15 hours of free childcare per week. Most London nurseries accept the funded hours entitlement, but a number of bilingual and independent nurseries charge top-up fees. Ask explicitly whether the nursery accepts funded hours and whether any additional charges apply.

Waiting lists. Most popular London bilingual nurseries have waiting lists of six months to a year or more, particularly for French nurseries in West and South London. Register your interest as early as possible — some nurseries accept registrations before birth.

Community. Particularly if you are an expat family, the wider nursery community can be a significant source of support. Ask what languages are spoken by the majority of families at the nursery.

Questions to ask at a nursery visit

1. What language model do you use — immersion, dual language, or enrichment?
2. What proportion of the day is conducted in the target language?
3. How many of your practitioners are native speakers of the language?
4. How do you support children who join with no previous exposure to the language?
5. Do you accept the funded hours entitlement, and are there any top-up fees?
6. What is your current waiting list situation?
7. Which primary schools do your leavers typically progress to?

Browse all bilingual nurseries in London on Bilingual Finder →