Daffodils Day Nursery, Norbury Avenue

Grass, growing plants and room to play across two floors give Daffodils Day Nursery, Norbury Avenue a clear physical identity. Its purpose-built premises combine indoor space with an outdoor area containing natural and artificial grass. The growing area adds something more purposeful: children can plant vegetables and watch them develop, bringing changes in the natural world into their play.

At its May 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and judged safeguarding effective. There were also two practical improvements to make: giving children enough personal space during activities and recognising when an activity needed to move on. These concern the way adults organise learning, rather than the quantity of resources around children.

The nursery has 50 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. Its address is 269 Norbury Avenue, London, SW16 3RN, with Norbury train station and local bus connections nearby.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, this brings together learning to communicate, becoming more independent and exploring the world through activities appropriate to children's development; it is the foundation expected of nursery provision, rather than a special programme unique to Daffodils.

In May 2024, babies explored rice with their hands while staff supplied simple language for their actions. That is a useful combination of sensory exploration and conversation: the activity gives adults something concrete to talk about while children investigate a material for themselves.

Older children used a computer mouse and followed directions in educational games in May 2024. Practical independence also featured in the day, with children managing tissues and talking about why teeth need cleaning. These examples connect learning with tasks children can recognise and practise, rather than presenting preparation for school solely as sitting down to formal work.

Outdoor and Community Life

The dedicated growing area gives children opportunities to plant and observe vegetables and other plants. Natural grass and artificial grass provide different outdoor surfaces, while the indoor accommodation extends over both floors. For families weighing the physical setting, those are concrete features to consider alongside the teaching.

In May 2024, bicycle play in the garden included conversations about traffic lights and how to respond to different colours. Children also practised taking turns with ride-on toys. Outdoor play therefore provided opportunities to discuss safety and negotiate shared resources, as well as move around.

At the May 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that picture cards helped children with special educational needs and/or disabilities understand routines and express choices, with parents and outside agencies involved in supporting their development. The useful detail here is the mechanism: visual information made the next part of the day easier to understand and gave children another way to communicate what they wanted.

In May 2024, staff gathered information about children's time at home to help them settle into the day. That exchange makes the handover relevant to the child, rather than simply an administrative moment. Staff also carried out daily checks of play spaces, examining areas from children's height to identify hazards.

The same month's activities exposed a limitation in adult interaction. Staff sometimes positioned themselves too close to children, obstructing their view and participation; some activities continued after children's attention had faded. Personal space and responsive pacing belong alongside warmth and familiarity when judging how comfortably a child can take part.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. That Christmas closure matters for families whose working arrangements continue through the holiday period.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 020 8764 3232. Use the Norbury Avenue address, 269 Norbury Avenue, London, SW16 3RN, when identifying this branch.

Getting There

Norbury train station and bus links serving London and Croydon are within a 5 minute walk away. This makes the location relevant to families combining childcare with those transport connections.

Funding and Paid Extras

In May 2024, the nursery received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four. Families budgeting for care should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Activity pacing and personal space. The May 2024 improvement points concerned adults getting too close and activities continuing too long. During a visit, ask how staff now recognise when children need more room or a change of activity.
• The attendance and cost arrangement. Opening hours run from 8am to 6pm, with a Christmas closure. Which booking pattern would cover your week, and how would funded hours and meals be treated in your quotation?
• Outdoor use. The growing area and two grass surfaces are tangible attractions. Ask how children at your child's stage use these spaces during their day.

Daffodils suits families seeking a Norbury nursery with substantial indoor space, outdoor planting and convenient rail and bus connections. The May 2024 Good judgement supports that choice, while the activity-pacing and personal-space concerns provide specific points to test on a visit. For a child who enjoys hands-on exploration, the growing area is a clear reason to look closely.