IT COSTS £150 a day — and comes with marble loos, Mandarin lessons and a gourmet tasting menu.
Welcome to Odyssey, the UK’s poshest nursery, where toddlers are potty trained in luxury and dine like mini royals.
One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant’s tasting course[/caption]
Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play[/caption]
The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education[/caption]
Based in Marylebone, central London, this lavish early-years setting has just opened in a Grade II-listed former prep school, offering a blend of elite childcare, plush interiors and a “global” outlook — including marble loos for potty training.
The nursery, which hails from Singapore and is built on the Reggio Emilia philosophy of child-led learning, is the first of its kind in the UK.
Spread across three pristine, light-filled floors, Odyssey caters to children from infancy up to five years old, offering everything from multilingual education to music lessons in a dedicated “jam room.”
Angela Ang, head of school, explained: “Our philosophy is ‘learning without boundaries’, so we believe learning doesn’t only take place in the rooms, it takes place anywhere.”
For £150 a day — or £690 for a full five-day week — little ones are served three gourmet meals prepared by an in-house chef, all NHS-accredited.
But this is no ordinary nursery food.
Think free-range pork loin with leek and cauliflower gratin, or spanakopita with tzatziki.
One parent reportedly mistook the menu for a high-end restaurant’s tasting course.
Still, Odyssey isn’t just about luxury lunches.
Children are introduced to French, Spanish and Mandarin between their story circles and sensory play.
Each room is designed with natural materials and educational themes, encouraging hands-on exploration and creativity.
There’s a bespoke library, a spacious art studio, and even a climbing wall outside.
Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play.
Ang said: “We observe the needs of the children, their interests, and we provide materials based on what they enjoy.”
Technology plays a subtle role too.
“We give the children iPads,” she said.
What help is available to parents for childcare costs?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours of free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours of free childcare a week.
To qualify you must work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.
“If we’re learning about shapes, for example, they might find a circle in their environment, snap a photo, and we project it onto the screen so everyone can see each other’s work.”
The focus, she insists, is not just on ticking off academic milestones.
“We want them to leave with lifelong learning skills — soft skills, open-mindedness, resilience and a willingness to take risks,” said Ang.
The setting reflects a growing appetite in the capital for globally minded early years education.
With Singapore’s education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience who expect high quality — and are prepared to pay for it.
In an age when many nurseries in the capital charge more than £100 per day, often with additional fees for meals or longer hours, Odyssey’s all-in model, while eye-watering, is not entirely out of step.
Parents across England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare for children aged three and four, with up to 30 hours for working families, but many London nurseries charge well above the funded hours.
Odyssey also prides itself on being inclusive, catering to both mainstream children and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
The nursery is yet to be rated by Ofsted but says it’s committed to top-tier educational outcomes and pastoral care.
Upstairs, children preparing for primary school learn about science, sustainability, maths and literacy through structured play[/caption]
With Singapore’s education system topping international rankings, Odyssey hopes to translate its success to a London audience[/caption]
The nursery is yet to be rated by Ofsted but says it’s committed to top-tier educational outcomes and pastoral care[/caption]
