Purple Panda Nursery
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in London for babies from 7 months up to 5 year olds, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2013, with 60 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
What childcare usually costs in Croydon
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Croydon 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
SW16 4JSWhat 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, 19 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children at this nursery are happy and settled. They enjoy the activities on offer and participate fully in a range of experiences. The long-standing staff team knows children well and develops strong bonds with them. Children make friends at nursery and they interact positively with their peers. They know the behaviour that is expected of them and their responsibility to help. For example, children help to tidy up toys when they finish playing. They enjoy activities inspired by cultural events or seasonal changes. For example, at Lunar New Year, nursery children explore Chinese writing and try creating their own symbols with paint.
The well-maintained nursery garden provides outdoor learning opportunities for all children in all weathers. Children enthusiastically fetch their coats and hats when it is time to go outside. In warmer weather, older children enjoy direct access through the open doors to the garden. Children develop their physical skills and confidence as they ride bikes, scoot and climb in the well-laid-out outdoor space.
Children are fully engrossed in the mud kitchen and sandpit where they develop their fine motor skills and social skills. Children have fun at nursery. They develop the confidence and skills they need for their eventual move to school.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- manage transitions more effectively to minimise disruption as children move from one activity to another n organise snack time to ensure children are not walking around while eating to promote their safety.
- 19 January 2023Good
- 31 October 2017Good
- 10 November 2016Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Purple Panda Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- 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.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.