Thanks so much again to everyone who replied - all your responses are very helpful. I think we're still inclined towards Newton.

We need to look round Eaton House the Manor but Newton's being closer, and the fact it is co-ed (our son really enjoys playing with girls as well as boys, and I think it would be nice for him to have the chance to play with children of both sexes) are points in its favour.

And I'll chime back in as a parent with a child at Newton, but not walking distance (Southern Rail, in fact ).

It's a testament to how much we love the school that we still take the train day in and out.

Walking distance would be bliss! So, if you like the school do it, it's hard on the kids as they get older too, we get home so late, I feel like it's homework, food, bath, bed and not much else.

My children aren't at Newton Prep, but I wanted to chip in that they are within walking distance of their schools and it makes life so much easier, particularly when mornings can be stressful just getting out of the house on time. I see a lot of stressed parents trying to park, drop off etc in the mornings. My children also love cycling/scooting to school and often bomb along with their friends, which makes it a fun, social experience for them and not a schlep. If you love the feel of Newton Prep, it's co-ed which is also lovely at such a young age, and you can walk to school, it feels like a really really good choice!

Thank you Ramadoo (and everyone else) for your comments. It sounds as if we’re in very similar situations - and I appreciate that it’s a relatively lucky situation to be in.

We’ve just had the confirmation of our place at Eaton House The Manor reception and request to pay the deposit this year (so before starting at Apple Nursery). We weren’t able to make the open day for Eaton House so need to look round first before making a final decision - it sounds really good but we liked Newton and the fact it’s within walking distance means that any other school would have to be quite a bit better to make up for the longer journey.

SouthChelseaBun - we are in the same boat with our son set to start NP apple nursery next year.
I loved the school (not that I looked at many) but I wasn't aware that nursery place guaranteed us a Reception place, just that it would be likely. Maybe I misunderstood (or maybe that is just how they phrase it in legal terms in case in the next year or two any behavioural issues arise? )

We likewise live within walking distance. We may be moving however, and I'm really struggling to find somewhere with a commute I want to do in the mornings/evenings that works particularly well (anywhere semi-affordable, anyway)

Not very helpful post i realise, sorry! We also looked at Eaton House and have registered for Reception place so that we can decide in a years time if we want to change our minds. I was very keen on NP's more relaxed feel, and I went to an academic but very easy going school but feel I could have benefited from more pushing and pressure, so I guess I'm ok with a little pushing and in fact hope NP can provide it? So far anyway, that of course may change!

Exciting/nerve racking times. But good choice so far I think.....

I know that Thomas' Battersea is a good school but I have been put off by the Isis Threat. I don't want my children's school to be a bomb target....

My son plays as much with girls and he does with boys in reception, and he did so since his first nursery.
Other boys play mostly with boys.
Depends on the child I guess.
I personally cannot understand the point of single sex education at primary school age.
But if he enjoys playing with boys and girls, why take away this diversity? It's not like the single sex schools around here are vastly better than the coed ones, imo anyways.

Thanks very much again for your thoughts. That’s more or less my thinking at the moment. Taking up the nursery offer gives us a guaranteed place at NP - we can always look around next year if we aren’t 100% convinced by that point. He does like his current nursery but quite a few children from there will be going to NP anyway.

NP is very close to where we live (less than ten minutes’ walk) whereas pretty much every other school would involve a drive or public transport in the wrong direction for our commute). We liked the modern facilities and the down-to-earth feeling when we looked round. My husband has a preference for a more relaxed (in terms of dress code) and modern school rather than a traditional one with caps and blazers etc - I have a soft spot for cosy and traditional, but it isn’t a strong enough preference to inform my choice since it’s more important to find somewhere my son will be happy and do well.

I don’t have a strong view about single sex v co-ed but my son likes playing with girls as much as boys - he says he wants to go to a school with girls. Not sure how much store to set by this though. Do boys and girls still play together at primary age? I remember at my primary school children playtime really divided along gender lines and there wasn’t much interaction.

Setting - I have heard it starts in Y2 and it's only for English and Maths. But if you want to know for sure, better ask the registrar.

Of course you can't know how academic your child will be at 2.5 (or even at 4.5 for that matter!).
But in your case, that shouldn't matter.
If you take the NP nursery offer, you get a free option of automatic entry into NP reception (maybe not entirely "free". as you give up your current nursery ). Then you continue to look at other schools for Reception entry, go for assessments, etc - you may get something you like better, or NP may do enough to convince you to stay.
The reality of getting into a London pre-prep via assessment is that it's pretty much down to luck (I mean, what can you really "assess" at the age of 3??). So having a certain place at NP is very attractive.

Re. the comment that NP is very academic - I don't think that's true.
It's more academic than other schools, but their yearly intake is approx. 80 children, and there is just no way that all those 80 children in a year group are all academic. My friend's son is not academic at all, but he loves the school and is very popular.

From my research last year (when we were choosing a school), from approx. Y2 onwards in most pre-preps there will be 1-2 children per year group who will not "fit in" and they will move on. I have heard of children moving from Eaton House to NP, from Thomas's Clapham to Broomwood Hall, from Broomwood to Streatham & Clapham High (there was a thread about this on NVN last year, but cannot find it). The majority of families will be happy to stay at their current school. But cannot reasonably predict what your child will be like in 4 years' time, so you can only make a decision based on your current circumstances/thinking (and be prepared to move if you do end up in the 1% of cases where the school you have chosen is not a good fit).

Re Broomwood Hall Garrards Road - cannot see how this would work for you, as it's miles away from NP (which you say is close to your house). Broomwood Hall is also very different from NP, so if you like one you probably won't like the other (small, more traditional for BH vs big with lots going on and modern facilities for NP). Generally families who like NP also like Thomas's (also big, coed, with lots going on). And before someone gets offended ...I DO NOT, in any way, mean to suggest BH is not good - just that different schools appeal to different families.

Good luck!

I don't agree with Nina that it's only for academic kids, as my son isn't academic - he needs an eye kept on him, regularly losing his stuff, bit quirky, not top at any subject, not sporty and he is very happy there and popular. My daughter is the opposite in being driven and gets very good academic results and is also very happy there. Really importantly for us, it's down to earth, friendly, approachable happy teachers, approachable leadership and an un-snobby feeling, lots of families with interesting jobs, from other countries which we love. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks very much @hellokittyerw, @theparsleysong and @NinaB - that is all really interesting and helpful.

Re the setting, do they stream or set for all subjects, or do they just set for a few? At 2.5 it is hard to tell how academic he will be.

Having had children there i would suggest the school is only good for academic kids. I would look at other schools such as Broomwood Hall Garrards Road for a very nurturing environment. Newton is only right for certain kids and they lose confidence if they are not in the top stream.

I agree with the positive comments above. We joined in senior school so no experience of the junior school, but have been there for about 4 years and can praise it to the rooftops. It's been a fantastic choice for us.

My DS just started in September in reception, and we really love the school. It's a big bustling school with lots going on, so your LO will most likely find something to be motivated by

Agree with genie, the aim is on academic achievement and literacy/Maths, however it's a broad church in terms of ability, so I'd say every child learns at his/her pace (only have experience of the lower school). There are lots of activities to keep the children motivated (e.g. Dressing up for Diwali, visit from the science museum), and the childrens achievements (even out if school ones) are celebrated.

The unique selling point, for us, was the diversity (our other option was Thomas's clapham, which we also liked, but was not as diverse).

If you live nearby you already have a great advantage (most kids travel quite a bit to get to the school).

Most importantly though, IMO, is the fact that you get automatic entry into reception.
Having to do an assessment at the age of 3 is not great, as a parent you don't have control of how they are on the day (our DS had fever and generally was in a bad mood for one of his assessment, nothing we could do about it...).
It's a case of bird in the hand vs bird in the bush
If you have your heart set on another school, then of course you should go with your gut feel. But if Newton prep is high on your list of preferences, then definitely take the nursery offer!

Sure, it's fine; refreshingly free of traditional strictures, rational about uniform, diverse, and not snobby at all. The children seem to love their teachers; I've heard this from all year groups. It's large, but the staff seem to know all the children's names anyway.

It aims for academic achievement, and as soon as the children are in year one the toys get put away and the homework starts. They teach to one year higher; so year one children are taught year two level work, etc.; the pace is quick and children who aren't naturally academically gifted need to work hard, but there is good support for this.

The focus is on maths and literacy, and other subjects like art and music are relegated to one lesson per week; but there are after-school lessons and clubs for art and music if your child has an interest, and great facilities for both, and everybody gets to act in a play or two each year.

I've just asked my child (who has been in NP since nursery, and is now in year 2) what she would say about his school, and she answered: "They give you lots of help and attention. You get to play in the morning, you learn lots, and the children are nice."

The whole locality is a huge building site and will remain so for many years, and the area has a high level of pollution; but as you live nearby you will of course be aware of that already.