Bright Horizons Epsom Waltham House Day Nursery and Preschool

An art studio, an ICT suite and gardens divided by age give Epsom Waltham House a recognisable character: creative work, early science and outdoor exploration have spaces of their own. This Worple Road nursery accepts children from 3 months to 5 years, spanning baby care through to preparation for school.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Outstanding, judged safeguarding effective and praised the support and progress of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Those judgements describe that visit, rather than a fresh assessment of today's practice. A later organisational safeguarding notice, dated June 2026, is material to the choice families now face and is discussed below.

Practical strengths include meals cooked on site, everyday baby essentials included in fees and parking for both cars and buggies. Opening hours run from 7.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays.

Rooms and Ages

Babies have sensory activities to explore, while the toddler room uses toys and resources to encourage imaginative play. In the nursery room, the emphasis shifts towards independence; preschool children have their own room and take part in the Ready for School Programme, which develops skills for their next stage.

An ICT suite supports computer and science learning, and the art studio combines creative activity with practice in the small hand movements children need for later tasks. A sleep room and a children's kitchen add further practical resources to the setting.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS framework connects care with learning and development: sensory play, imaginative activities and creative work help children build communication, physical skills and independence. Alongside this foundation, the group-wide Nurture Approach adds creative activities to develop skills and confidence, supporting emotional wellbeing, room moves and school preparation.

In April 2023, adults built language into practical exploration. Babies pulled up to stand beside a water tray, splashed and poured while staff put words to their actions. Older children examined natural materials using tools and magnifying glasses, with questions encouraging them to think more closely about what they noticed.

A volcano experiment offered another example that April: children took turns adding ingredients and watched the mixture flow out. The activity involved listening, handling materials and following instructions, rather than simply watching an adult demonstration. Staff also gave children time to answer questions and extended the vocabulary used during play.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden has separate areas for different ages, alongside a mud kitchen and a covered all-weather area. That arrangement gives outdoor activity a place within the nursery's day, with resources for messy exploration as well as shelter.

In April 2023, outdoor reading used a dedicated garden space furnished with blankets and cushions. Children also helped care for nursery animals by feeding them and helping keep them clean.

Work towards an Eco-Schools Award that April involved growing vegetables, making a bug hotel and collecting litter. The scheme gave environmental learning concrete tasks children could take part in. The giggle tree room provided a different pace: a sensory play space used for yoga and activities supporting wellbeing.

Relationships featured strongly in the April 2023 account of daily life. Babies communicated through sounds and gestures, and staff responded with close interaction and comfort. Adults helped children practise sharing and taking turns, using encouragement to support persistence. For parents, these examples show how emotional care and learning were connected during that period.

Support for additional needs that April included working with other professionals, using extra funding to increase staffing and arranging specialist training. Staff also worked with speech therapists to learn ways of supporting communication. These are specific mechanisms families can weigh, rather than a general promise that every need will be met in the same way.

The Bright Horizons Family app now gives parents access to information about their child's day and milestones.

In its outcome document dated 22 June 2026, Ofsted reported issuing Bright Horizons with a Welfare Requirements Notice covering organisational safeguarding leadership, oversight and consistent practice, with actions due by 1 August 2026. The notice explicitly distinguishes organisational weaknesses from concerns at every individual nursery; it also states that the provider had not demonstrated consistently effective safeguarding across its provision. Its requirements included stronger oversight of concerns, consistent escalation and handling of staff allegations, and monitoring of training and supervision. This later position must be considered alongside the nursery's dated Outstanding judgement.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 28 Worple Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5EH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, with operation across the year and closures for bank holidays and Christmas. Families needing care beyond the school term can therefore consider the annual opening pattern, while allowing for those closures.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01372 237 015, and personal tours can be booked.

Getting There

An on-site car park and buggy park support different ways of travelling with young children. Epsom station and Morden tube station are identified as nearby transport connections.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, alongside paid childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, so families can assess their own attendance costs rather than rely on a headline price.

An on-site chef prepares meals; food and snacks are included in fees. The inclusive essentials also cover nappies, wipes, creams and formula, reducing the everyday supplies families need to organise separately.

• Later safeguarding action. The organisational notice dated 22 June 2026 required changes by 1 August 2026. Ask how those requirements have been implemented at Epsom Waltham House and what families can expect from the handling and escalation of safeguarding concerns.
• The attendance agreement. The nursery opens across the year, with bank holiday and Christmas closures. At a visit, ask which booking pattern fits your week and how funded hours, paid hours and closures are reflected in the written quotation.
• Moving through the rooms. Sensory exploration, imaginative play, independence and the Ready for School Programme mark different stages here. Use a tour to discuss how room moves and settling sessions would work for your child, including any additional support they need.

Epsom Waltham House suits families seeking care from babyhood through preschool, an opening pattern extending beyond school terms, and dedicated spaces for art, science and outdoor activity. Included meals and baby essentials are useful practical attractions. The April 2023 examples illustrate children's learning at that visit; the June 2026 organisational safeguarding notice is a significant part of the present decision. Both deserve weight.