Colby Road Nursery
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 1989, with 13 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Southwark
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Southwark from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SE19 1HAWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 24 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The nursery is small and intimate and has a homely feel. Children settle quickly from when they first arrive. Some as young as a year old, who have only been attending for three weeks, are happy to come to nursery. The nursery is very much a part of the local community. The rooms are well resourced with age-appropriate toys. The staff are warm and welcoming and know the children well. Children show enthusiasm and engage well in high-quality literacy opportunities, such as song time, and a variety of books are available. There is a large garden and children enjoy using the climbing, riding and balancing equipment to develop their physical skills.
Practitioners think ahead to challenge the children and ensure they are making progress. Routines are well established and children thrive, knowing what is happening next. Children are independent in their play, dressing dolls and choosing books to look at. They feel heard and supported by the staff, who respond to the individual needs of each child. Staff work closely with parents to provide continuity in children's care routines and their learning. Parents praise the good care provided to their children and say that they enjoy attending.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that practitioners are aware of children's next steps to ensure all children are being appropriately encouraged.
- 24 November 2022Good
- 10 January 2017Good
- 6 February 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Colby Road Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.