Business Details
14 Years
experience
Your Trusted Partner for Outstanding Child Care in South Croydon
Established in 2012 by Elena and Aimee, two mothers with a shared vision, Little Apples Day Nursery Day Nursery provides outstanding childcare rooted in empathy and expertise. Our team of 28 professionals, including degree-qualified staff and apprentices, delivers tailored early years education aligned with the EYFS framework. We prioritise safety, with DBS-checked staff and rigorous safeguarding protocols, while fostering holistic development through innovative methods like Forest School sessions.Our homely environment, enhanced by regular parent engagement opportunities, ensures children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. With 16+ years of collective staff experience and continuous professional development, we maintain our reputation as South Croydon's leading nursery, evidenced by our OFSTED Outstanding rating and annual graduation celebrations marking children's successful transitions to school.
Services
Day Nursery
Pre-School
Forest School
Additional Curriculum Activities
Support for Children with Additional Needs
Details
- Year established: 2012
Highlights and features
- OFSTED Outstanding-rated nursery with dedicated SENCO and Safeguarding Officers
- Forest School Leader delivering outdoor learning experiences in local parks
- 16+ years collective staff experience with regular safeguarding and first aid training
- Personalised EYFS learning journeys with bi-termly progress reports
- Family-run nursery offering a homely atmosphere with parent engagement events
Associations and certifications
- OFSTED
What people say
Safe and nurturing environment
Excellent OFSTED report
Dedicated staff
Smooth school transition
Engaging activities
Services
Day Nursery
Our day nursery provides full-day care for children aged 0-5, following the EYFS framework. Each child receives individual attention through key-worker systems and bi-termly development reports. The nursery maintains a 1:3 staff-to-child ratio in baby rooms and 1:8 in pre-school settings.
Pre-School
Our pre-school programme prepares children for formal education through structured learning activities. Qualified educators implement tailored curricula with 6-week planning cycles, focusing on school readiness skills while maintaining age-appropriate play-based learning approaches.
Forest School
Led by certified Forest School Leaders, our woodland sessions develop problem-solving and creativity through nature-based activities. Children engage in seasonal outdoor exploration at local parks, with risk assessments ensuring safe, educational experiences for ages 2+.
Additional Curriculum Activities
We offer extended learning opportunities including music, movement, and language classes. These activities complement core EYFS objectives while fostering diverse interests and talents in a supportive environment.
Support for Children with Additional Needs
Our SENCO co-ordinators implement individualised support plans for children with special educational needs. Staff receive regular training to accommodate diverse requirements, including English language development and behavioural support strategies.
People
Elena
Director of Early Years & Customer Service
Qualified nursery practitioner with NVQ Level 6, Elena co-founded Little Apples Day Nursery in 2012. She oversees educational standards and customer relations, ensuring alignment with EYFS requirements while maintaining the nursery's family ethos.
Aimee
Director of Finance & HR
With a business background and Assoc CIPD qualification, Aimee manages financial operations and staff development. She established Little Apples Day Nursery' apprenticeship programme and ensures compliance with childcare regulations.
Sarah
Team Leader
Level 6 Early Years Educator and DSL, Sarah leads staff training initiatives. She implements safeguarding protocols and coordinates professional development to maintain high educational standards across all nursery rooms.
Jodie
Team Leader
Level 3 Early Years Educator and SENCO, Jodie specialises in supporting children with additional needs. She develops individual learning plans and conducts regular progress assessments to ensure optimal development outcomes.
Vicky
Team Leader
NVQ Level 6 qualified educator, Vicky manages preschool operations. She designs curriculum frameworks and conducts parent workshops to enhance understanding of EYFS learning objectives and child development.
Questions
What age groups do you cater for?
We provide childcare for children aged 0-5 years across our baby room, toddler, and pre-school facilities.
Is Little Apples OFSTED registered?
Yes, we are an OFSTED-registered nursery with an Outstanding grading since our 2012 inspection.
Do you offer funded childcare places?
We accept government funding for 2 and 3-year-olds, with eligibility details available through our admissions team.
What outdoor activities are available?
Our Forest School sessions provide weekly outdoor learning experiences in local parks for children aged 2+.
How do you ensure child safety?
All staff undergo DBS checks, with dedicated Safeguarding Officers maintaining strict safety protocols and regular training.
Can parents visit the nursery?
We welcome visits by appointment and host regular 'Meet the Director' events for prospective families.
Reviews (4)
Jay
Jan 08, 2022
Report
If youre thinking of using this nursery please think otherwise. As a homeowner in the nurserys vicinity all I can hear throughout the day is crying and screaming from unhappy children while staff laugh with some staff even shouting at the children in response. Their behaviour and attitude towards residents of the area is not much different. They have created a hostile environment for everyone most of all the children. I also see other residents have complained in their reviews but their words have been suppressed by other reviews claiming to be parents of children whove attended little
Sophie Richardson
Dec 27, 2021
Report
We have had nothing but a positive experience at Little Apples. The staff are wonderful and make the effort to share updates regularly, including the learning and progress of our child. They have adapted during the pandemic, running parents evening and other fun events online to ensure we still feel included in our child's experience as much as possible. Highly recommend!
Mavs S. Naturally Diddy
Nov 28, 2021
Report
Little Apples is a fab nursery! Really impressed by the level of care and attention the children are all given. Facilities are great, very welcoming and friendly, a bright fun environment for the kids where they are safe and well cared for. Team have all been really great supporting my daughter with her specific needs and clearly have bonded well with her and her with them. Very happy.
Katie Carr
Nov 27, 2021
Report
My son joined Little Apples at 14 months old and quickly settled in, largely down to the friendly and caring staff. Each morning we are greeted with a warm smile and each afternoon at pick up we are told what he did that day and what his response was to that activity. Throughout the day we can see what he is up to using the Blossoms app, where his general progress is recorded and well as developmental milestone tracking and praise. We genuinely feel relaxed when our son is at Little Apples and therefore made the easy decision to enrol our youngest child there too (he starts in a few months). We
