The Learning Tree Pre-school
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Croydon for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2022. Open since 2002, with 28 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
CR0 0EGWhat 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 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed as they arrive. They respond well to the care and affection that they receive from staff. Children who find it difficult to separate from their parents receive close attention from staff and quickly join activities. Children experience care routines that mirror those from home. Their successes are celebrated and shared by staff, including during toilet training. Children speak about important events and people in their lives and are encouraged to recognise and express how they feel. They learn about living things and different communities. Children show that they respect the different needs and abilities of their friends. Children discuss the benefits of the food that they eat with staff. They understand how to look after their bodies and develop healthy habits.
Children develop their curiosity well as they explore attractive learning opportunities. Children learn about technology and its uses, as they help staff to photocopy and display their artwork. Children are excited to discuss and experience the weather when it suddenly changes. They are keen to explore hailstones that staff collect during heavy downpours. Children use their bodies well and have good opportunities to exercise and play outside. They balance on beams, stamp in puddles, ride bicycles, and playfully chase their friends. They enjoy challenging learning opportunities and show that they are proud of their achievements.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- expand opportunities for children to recognise, value and share their backgrounds and familiar languages n establish and strengthen links with other settings that children attend, to promote a shared and consistent approach to children's learning.
- 24 February 2022Good
- 7 January 2016Good
- 21 January 2015Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Learning Tree 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.