Sherwood Pre-School
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in South Croydon for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 2015, with 49 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 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
CR2 6LNWhat 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, 7 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are secure and settle well. They happily separate from their parents on arrival and quickly settle into the familiar routines. Children confidently find their picture and name to add to the self-registration board. Through a well-planned curriculum, children display high levels of concentration. For instance, they listen, take turns and are eager to discuss the rules and plans for the day. Children show good levels of respect for their friends. Their behaviour is good. Young children have a keen interest in books and reading. They identify and count 1,2,3 and talk about the different images in the pictures. Children develop their early communication and language skills. Staff work closely with parents and know children well. They provide one-to-one support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). For example, staff develop cosy and well-being areas and organise individual activities in the smaller room.
Children benefit from daily opportunities to play and exercise in the fresh air. They practise their physical skills in the well-resourced outdoor areas. For instance, older children work together finding ways to make water travel through tubes. Young children manoeuvre around the garden using bikes and trikes. Children develop a good understanding of cause and effect. In addition, they develop their physical skills well.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure the recruitment and induction process is robust and support managers to fulfil their roles and responsibilities n help staff to consistently support children's growing independence n strengthen intended learning of planned activities so that they are clearly understood by staff.
- 7 February 2023Good
- 7 June 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sherwood Pre-School
- 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.