Shining Stars Nursery
GoodTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Thornton Heath for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2006, with 24 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
15 & 30 hours free entitlement accepted; 15 hours for all children the term after their 3rd birthday, 5 morning or 5 afternoon sessions for 38 weeks a year; some 2-year-olds may also be eligible; 30 hours for working families with 3–4 year olds for 38 weeks.
Worth knowing. Both parents must work, earning the equivalent of 16 hrs at minimum wage, with neither earning over £100,000.
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
CR7 8EBWhat 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, 20 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager and her staff team create a welcoming environment in the nursery, where children are happy and at ease. Staff have high expectations for children and provide a curriculum that covers all areas of learning. This helps children to develop the skills they need for starting school. For instance, staff use a selfregistration system to encourage children to be able to identify their name. Staff are kind, gentle and thoughtful. They are good role models and successfully support children to behave well and consider the needs of others. For example, children independently say 'sorry' to each other without being prompted if they accidently knock their friends' toys over.
Staff encourage children's communication and language through enjoyable and effective strategies. For example, they have lots of meaningful conversations during circle times and story times and through activities such as 'What's in the
Box?' The diverse team of staff support children who speak English as an additional language. They talk to children in their home language and obtain keywords from parents. This supports all children to become skilful communicators. For example, older children confidently explain that butterflies come from cocoons. Staff implement effective strategies to promote children's awareness of healthy lifestyles. Children take part in good hygiene routines. They learn to brush their teeth after lunch and wash their hands before meals and cooking activities.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - enhance the organisation of large-group activities further, so that older children's learning is not disrupted.
- 20 July 2023Good
- 16 January 2018Good
- 15 April 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Shining Stars Nursery
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.