# Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle is a full-day nursery at Elephant 1, 7 Castle Square, London, SE17 1EN, in Newington, Southwark. It is registered for 72 children and takes children aged 3 months to 5 years. It opens 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri, 51 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in August 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 4.9 from 9 reviews (November 2026).

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/little-bears-in-elephant-and-castle-2500613  
Last checked 11 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: Elephant 1, 7 Castle Square, London, SE17 1EN
- Ages: 3 months to 5 years
- Opening hours: 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri
- Weeks open: 51 a year
- Registered places: 72
- Funded childcare: funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds
- Meals included: yes
- Phone: 020 7358 7860
- Website: https://www.littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central/
- Ofsted URN: 2500613

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 18 August 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

- Quality of education: Good
- Behaviour and attitudes: Good
- Personal development: Good
- Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective.

Inspection history:

- 18 August 2025: Ofsted inspection, Good
- 13 September 2022: Ofsted inspection, Good

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2500613

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since January 2019 (Reference 2500613). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2500613)
- Inspections on record: 2 inspections (latest 18 August 2025). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2500613)
- Registered places: 72 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2500613)

## Fees

Funded hours: 2-year-olds, 30 hours.

Fees: not published yet.

Nurseries in Southwark that publish fees charge £72.50–£110 a day for under-2s (11 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.

## Hours and ages

- Monday to Friday: 07:30–18:30
- Ages: 3 months to 5 years
- Weeks open: 51 a year

## Getting there

Address: Elephant 1, 7 Castle Square, London, SE17 1EN

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.494253,-0.098139

- Station: Elephant & Castle, under 0.1 miles
- Station: Kennington, 0.5 miles, no step-free access
- Station: Borough, 0.5 miles, step-free access
- 28 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Elephant Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: Falmouth Road Gardens, 0.1 miles
- Park: St Mary's Churchyard, 0.1 miles
- Park: Newington Gardens, 0.2 miles
- Park: Victory Community Park, 0.2 miles
- Playground: Elephant Springs, under 0.1 miles

© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In Southwark there are about 3.1 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 9 reviews (as of 11 November 2026)

## About: a day here

### Learning

The nursery's website says it uses a play-based EYFS curriculum, and it names a sensory room as support. Its listed activities are music classes, children's yoga, dance and movement, drama and library visits. Ofsted's 2025 inspection rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good.

- Play-based EYFS curriculum (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/our-nursery)

### Food

Meals are included in the fees. Its website says the nursery has an allergy-aware kitchen, is a nut-free setting and provides healthy snacks.

- Allergy-aware kitchen (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/our-nursery)
- Nut-free setting (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Meals included in fees (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)
- Healthy snacks provided (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/our-nursery)

### Outdoors

Its website says the nursery makes regular park trips, along with local outings and trips.

- Regular park trips (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central)
- Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central)

### Settling in

Its website describes a six-session settling-in programme in which the parent books the first session and the key person books the rest. Early sessions are short visits where the parent stays, and later sessions see the parent leave for longer periods. Settling-in sessions are free, and the nursery operates a key person system.

- Key person system (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/settling-in)
- Dedicated sleep room (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/our-nursery)
- Open all year (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)
- Early drop-off (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Late pick-up (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Nappies and wipes provided (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)
- Settling-in sessions (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)

### SEND and inclusion

- Sensory room (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)

### Safety

Ofsted's 2025 inspection judged safeguarding to be effective.

- Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)
- Online learning journal (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/faq)
- Purpose-built building (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Near public transport (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)

### Extras and activities

- Music classes (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Children's yoga (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central)
- Dance and movement (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/)
- Drama (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central)
- Library visits (source: nursery website, https://littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central)

### Getting a place

Its website says to call or email the nursery to arrange a visit or book a place. The nursery accepts funded hours for 2-year-olds, the universal 15 funded hours for 3-4 year olds, and 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds.

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Oak School |  | 4–11 |  |  | 0.2 miles |
| Victory Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Good (May 2023) | yes | 0.2 miles |
| Crampton Primary | Primary | 4–11 | Outstanding (April 2024) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Ark Globe Academy | All-through | 3–18 | Report card (May 2026) | yes | 0.3 miles |
| St Jude's Church of England Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (January 2026) | yes | 0.4 miles |
| Robert Browning Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (December 2025) | yes | 0.4 miles |
| St George's Cathedral Catholic Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (June 2024) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| Charles Dickens Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Standards maintained (June 2025) | yes | 0.5 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Rockingham Community Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/rockingham-community-day-nursery-107456) | Good |  | 08:00–16:00 | 0.1 miles |
| [Rockingham Community Pre-school Playgroup](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/rockingham-community-pre-school-playgroup-107642) | Good |  | 09:00–17:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [1st Place at the Elephant](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/1st-place-at-the-elephant-2741844) | Good | £104 | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [Kido Elephant Park](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kido-elephant-park-2567271) | Good | £105 | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles |
| [Ark Start Globe](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/ark-start-globe-2813325) |  |  | 08:00–17:00 | 0.3 miles |
| [St Johns Pre School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/st-johns-pre-school-107639) | Good |  | 09:00–15:00 | 0.3 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle offer 30 funded hours?

Yes. Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.

### Does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle take funded 2-year-olds?

Yes. Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.

### What are Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle's opening hours?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle opens 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri.

### Is Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle open all year?

Yes, Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle is open 51 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.

### What ages does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle take?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle takes children aged 3 months to 5 years.

### What is Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle Good at its inspection on 18 August 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle take?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle is registered with Ofsted for up to 72 children at any one time.

### Are meals included at Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle?

Yes. Meals are included in the fees at Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle.

### What approach does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle follow?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle's website describes its approach as: Play-based EYFS curriculum.

### Does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle have outdoor space?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle lists: Regular park trips and Local outings and trips.

### Does Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle support children with SEND?

Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle lists: Sensory room.

### What is the nearest station to Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle?

Elephant & Castle is the nearest station we know of, 0.1 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact Little Bear's In Elephant And Castle?

You can call 020 7358 7860 and visit www.littlebearsnursery.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2500613)
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.littlebearsnursery.co.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.littlebearsnursery.co.uk/elephant-central/)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Little+Bear%E2%80%99s+in+Elephant+Central&query_place_id=ChIJkWPnjP8FdkgRfOBQ5bkr4Pw)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.