Full-day nursery in Thornton Heath, Croydon
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery
1a Headcorn Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6JR · 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 2023Reference 2729987Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 15 September 2025Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places25 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 12 June 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
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
- 08:00–18:00
- Ages
- 3 months to 5 years
- Weeks open
- 50 a year
Getting there
1a Headcorn Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6JR · More nurseries in CR7
Stations
- Thornton Heath19 min walk · 0.8 miles
- Norbury22 min walk · 0.9 miles
Buses
8 bus stops within 400 m, including Heathview Road, London Road / Galpins Road and Galpins Road / London Road.
Parks and playgrounds
- Thornton Heath Recreation Ground10 min walk
- Pollards Hill10 min walk
- Norbury Hall Park10 min walk
- Tree Space11 min walk
- Playground9 min walk
- Playground11 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 Rainbow Stars Day Nursery
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery is a full-day nursery at 1a Headcorn Road, Thornton Heath, CR7 6JR, in Thornton Heath, Croydon. It is registered for 25 children and takes children aged 3 months to 5 years. It opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri, 50 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in September 2025, 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 5.0 from 1 review (November 2026). It is run by Rainbow Stars Day Nursery Limited.
Run by Rainbow Stars Day Nursery Limited (company), which runs 2 nurseries.
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
The nursery's website names a play-based EYFS curriculum as its approach. Ofsted's 2025 inspection rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good.
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
Food
Its website says breakfast and healthy snacks are provided. Parents provide a packed lunch.
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Parents provide packed lunchSource: nursery website
- Healthy snacks providedSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website says the nursery has its own garden and offers daily outdoor play. It also lists regular park trips and local outings and trips.
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Daily outdoor playSource: nursery website
- Regular park tripsSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Settling in
Its website says settling in involves two weeks of free gradual admission. For one hour before starting, the parent stays with the child for 10-15 minutes, then steps away for an hour while the child plays and settles. Care arrangements include a key person system and settling-in sessions.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Open all yearSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
- Holiday clubSource: nursery website
- After-school clubSource: nursery website
- Breakfast clubSource: nursery website
Safety
Ofsted's 2025 inspection found safeguarding effective.
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says applicants should complete the application form and return it through the website submission form, by email, or by post to the setting's address. The nursery accepts government-funded hours for working parents of children from 9 months, 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.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Stars Day NurseryThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | This nursery |
| Lolly Tots Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | under 0.1 miles |
| Loving Hands International Nursery School LtdFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.1 miles |
| Winterbourne School Extended Club Premier F4F GroupSessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Star Child Montessori Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Loving Hands International Nursery School LtdSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| Tenderlinks Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Thornton Heath18
- All nurseries in Croydon160
- All nurseries in CR719
- Nurseries near Thornton Heath station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Winterbourne Junior Girls' School Primaryages 7–11Ofsted: Goodinspected May 2024 0.2 miles
- Winterbourne Nursery and Infants' School Primaryages 3–7has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected September 2023 0.2 miles
- Winterbourne Boys' Academy Primaryages 7–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected March 2022 0.2 miles
- Gonville Academy Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected April 2023 0.4 miles
- Paxton Academy Sports And Science Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected December 2022 0.4 miles
- William Morris Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected July 2026 0.7 miles
- St James the Great RC Primary and Nursery School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected November 2023 0.7 miles
- Harris Primary Academy Merton Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Outstandinginspected February 2024 0.8 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 Rainbow Stars Day Nursery offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Rainbow Stars Day Nursery offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does Rainbow Stars Day Nursery take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Rainbow Stars Day Nursery offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Rainbow Stars Day Nursery offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Rainbow Stars Day Nursery offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Rainbow Stars Day Nursery's opening hours?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Rainbow Stars Day Nursery open all year?
Yes, Rainbow Stars Day Nursery is open 50 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.
What ages does Rainbow Stars Day Nursery take?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery takes children aged 3 months to 5 years.
What is Rainbow Stars Day Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Rainbow Stars Day Nursery Good at its inspection on 15 September 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Rainbow Stars Day Nursery take?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery is registered with Ofsted for up to 25 children at any one time.
Who runs Rainbow Stars Day Nursery?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery is run by Rainbow Stars Day Nursery Limited, which runs 2 nurseries.
What approach does Rainbow Stars Day Nursery follow?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery's website describes its approach as: Play-based EYFS curriculum.
Does Rainbow Stars Day Nursery have outdoor space?
Rainbow Stars Day Nursery lists: Own garden, Daily outdoor play, Regular park trips and Local outings and trips.
What is the nearest station to Rainbow Stars Day Nursery?
Thornton Heath is the nearest station we know of, 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Rainbow Stars Day Nursery?
You can call 020 3827 6414 and visit www.rainbowstarschildcare.com.
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.rainbowstarschildcare.com) · 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 2729987 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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