Full-day nursery in Spring Park, Croydon
Little Elms Daycare Shirley
Doctors Surgery, 2 South Way, Croydon, CR0 8RP · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Good
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since May 2015Reference EY489229Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 19 June 2023Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places63 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 14 May 2026Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
- Charge on funded hours
- £32.88 per week
- Charge on funded hours
- £16.44 per week
Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours
Fees: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Nurseries in Croydon that publish fees charge £75–£125 a day for under-2s (8 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 07:30–18:00
- Ages
- 3 months to 5 years
- Weeks open
- 52 a year
Getting there
Doctors Surgery, 2 South Way, Croydon, CR0 8RP · More nurseries in CR0
Stations
- Coombe Lane Tram Stop24 min walk · 1.0 miles
- Addington Village Tram Stop24 min walk · 1.0 miles
Buses
4 bus stops within 400 m, including Benson School and Bennetts Avenue.
Parks and playgrounds
- Shirley Church Recreation Ground3 min walk
- Millers Pond11 min walk
- Addington Hills11 min walk
- Playground5 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Croydon there are about 3.2 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
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Write a reviewAbout Little Elms Daycare Shirley
Little Elms Daycare Shirley is a full-day nursery at Doctors Surgery, 2 South Way, Croydon, CR0 8RP, in Spring Park, Croydon. It is registered for 63 children and takes children aged 3 months to 5 years. It opens 07:30–18:00, Mon–Fri, 52 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in June 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 4.8 from 38 reviews (November 2026). It is run by Little Elms Daycare Nursery Limited.
Run by Little Elms Daycare Nursery Limited (company), which runs 7 nurseries.
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning and approach
- Nature-based approachSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
- Early phonicsSource: nursery website
Food
- Meals cooked on siteSource: nursery website
- Organic foodSource: nursery website
- Allergy-aware kitchenSource: nursery website
- Meals included in feesSource: nursery website
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Healthy snacks providedSource: nursery website
Outdoors
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Regular park tripsSource: nursery website
- Growing / allotment areaSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Care and routines
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Separate baby roomSource: nursery website
- Open all yearSource: nursery website
- Early drop-offSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
- Small group sizesSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- SEND supportSource: nursery website
Building and safety
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Online learning journalSource: nursery website
- Purpose-built buildingSource: nursery website
- ParkingSource: nursery website
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Music classesSource: nursery website
- Children's yogaSource: nursery website
- Sports coachingSource: nursery website
- Library visitsSource: nursery website
- STEM activitiesSource: nursery website
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Elms Daycare ShirleyThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | This nursery |
| Sparkles Pre-SchoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | 0.5 miles |
| Masons PreschoolSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 08:45–15:00 | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Top Tots DaycareSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–17:00 | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Funshine Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Kendor Day NurserySessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Little Nest Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | £80 | 07:30–18:00 | 6 mo–5 yrs | 0.8 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Spring Park5
- All nurseries in Croydon160
- All nurseries in CR065
- Nurseries near Addiscombe tram stop
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Harris Primary Academy Benson Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected June 2023 under 0.1 miles
- St John's CofE Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Report cardinspected May 2026 0.4 miles
- Forest Academy Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected July 2026 0.6 miles
- Beckmead Park Academy ages 5–16Ofsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected July 2025 1.0 miles
- Orchard Way Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Standards maintainedinspected January 2025 1.0 miles
- Maudsley and Bethlem Hospital School ages 4–19Ofsted: School remains Outstandinginspected November 2021 1.0 miles
- Oak Lodge Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Standards maintainedinspected October 2024 1.1 miles
- Red Gates School ages 4–11Ofsted: Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected September 2024 1.2 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
Does Little Elms Daycare Shirley offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Little Elms Daycare Shirley offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds. It charges £32.88 per week on funded hours for extras such as meals and activities.
Does Little Elms Daycare Shirley take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Little Elms Daycare Shirley offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Little Elms Daycare Shirley offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Little Elms Daycare Shirley offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Little Elms Daycare Shirley's opening hours?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley opens 07:30–18:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Little Elms Daycare Shirley open all year?
Yes, Little Elms Daycare Shirley is open 52 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.
What ages does Little Elms Daycare Shirley take?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley takes children aged 3 months to 5 years.
What is Little Elms Daycare Shirley's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Little Elms Daycare Shirley Good at its inspection on 19 June 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Little Elms Daycare Shirley take?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley is registered with Ofsted for up to 63 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Little Elms Daycare Shirley?
Yes. Meals are included in the fees at Little Elms Daycare Shirley.
Who runs Little Elms Daycare Shirley?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley is run by Little Elms Daycare Nursery Limited, which runs 7 nurseries.
What approach does Little Elms Daycare Shirley follow?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley's website describes its approach as: Nature-based approach, School readiness programme and Early phonics.
Does Little Elms Daycare Shirley have outdoor space?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley lists: Own garden, Regular park trips, Growing / allotment area and Local outings and trips.
Does Little Elms Daycare Shirley support children with SEND?
Little Elms Daycare Shirley lists: SEND support.
What is the nearest station to Little Elms Daycare Shirley?
Coombe Lane is the nearest station we know of, 1.0 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Little Elms Daycare Shirley?
You can call 023 8202 2462 and visit www.littleelmsdaycare.co.uk.
Tools for parents in Croydon
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in CroydonFees by age in Croydon
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.littleelmsdaycare.co.uk) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 11 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
Last checked 11 November 2026 · Ofsted URN EY489229 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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