Nurseries and childcare in Croydon
We know of 109 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Croydon. 5 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 5 of 5 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across Croydon
- Crosfield Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2024) · phone and directions
- Purley Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2023) · phone and directions
- Selhurst Nursery School and Children's CentreGood or better Good (2024)
- Thornton Heath Nursery SchoolGood or better Good (2023) · phone and directions
- Tunstall Nursery SchoolGood or better Standards maintained (2025) · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Bright Horizons Coulsdon Day Nursery and Preschool Preschool 48b Chipstead Valley Rd, Coulsdon, CR5 2RA 5 Call
- Inspire Day Nursery Preschool 68 Windmill Road, Croydon, CR0 2XP 3 Call
- Abbey Wood Grange Day Nursery and Pre School Day care preschool Church Rd, Kenley, CR8 5 Call
- Allens Montessori Day Nursery Preschool Beulah Rd, Thornton Heath, CR7 4 Call
- Blossoms Day Nursery Day care preschool 109 Waddon New Rd, Croydon, CR0 4JE 5 Call
- Bright Horizons Purley Day Nursery and Preschool Home service 62 Whytecliffe Rd N, Purley, CR8 2AR 5 Call
- Childcare Happy Days Home service Aldwick Rd, Croydon, CR0 5 Call
- Curious Minds Montessori Preschool St. James Rd, Kenley, CR8 5 Call
- Daffodils Day Nursery - Norbury Crescent Day care preschool Norbury Cres, London, SW16 5 Call
- Davidson Preschool Preschool Davidson Rd, Croydon, CR0 5 Call
- Fennies Day Nurseries Limited Preschool 112 Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon, CR0 6AD 5 Call
- First Step Day Nursery Day care preschool Harold Rd, London, SE19 4 Call
- Hop, Skip and Jump Preschool 86 Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP 5 Call
- Immanuels Day Nursery and Preschool Home service 1 Haling Park Rd, South Croydon, CR2 6NG 4 Call
- Kids Joy Nursery Preschool Peall Rd, Croydon, CR0 4 Call
- Kinderland Day Nursery - Croydon Day care preschool 102 Park Ln, Croydon, CR0 1JB 5 Call
- Leapfrog Day Nursery Preschool Sydenham Rd, Croydon, CR0 5 Call
- Learning World Montessori Preschool 141 Coombe Rd, Croydon, CR0 5SQ 5 Call
- Little Apples Day Nursery Day care preschool 20 Sanderstead Rd, South Croydon, CR2 0PA 5 Call
- Little Pumpkins Nursery Day care preschool 2-4 Crowther Rd, London, SE25 5QW 4 Call
- Masons Pre-School Preschool Verdayne Ave, Croydon, CR0 5 Call
- Monkey Puzzle Purley Day care preschool Brighton Rd, Purley, CR8 5 Call
- Olive Tree Day Nursery & Pre-School Preschool City House, 420 London Rd, Croydon, CR0 2NU 4 Call
- Playhouse Montessori Preschool Dunbar Avenue, London, SW16 5 Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Croydon?
We know of 109 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Croydon, including 5 state nursery schools. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.