Fennies Croydon, Addiscombe Road

A slide linking the preschool room with the garden gives Fennies Croydon, Addiscombe Road a memorable centrepiece. This purpose-built nursery pairs outdoor space with studios for art and cooking, while a separate baby garden gives younger children their own outdoor setting. The physical offer has character.

At its August 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, identifying engaging activities alongside a need for more consistently effective conversations between staff and children. That distinction matters: attractive activities are only part of the experience, and the adult helping a child explore them matters just as much.

The nursery accepts children from 3 months to 5 years and has 109 places in total. Its address is 92 Addiscombe Road, Croydon, CR0 5PP. Standard days and an Early Start extension form the attendance offer; half-day bookings are excluded.

Rooms and Ages

Explorers, for children aged 3 to 18 months, has a calm setting for early development; the preschool Inventors Room connects directly to the garden by slide, with creative learning activities described for children aged 3 and over. These are useful differences for families comparing the environment their child would actually use, rather than judging the whole nursery from its largest outdoor space.

The baby garden, art studio and cooking studio add separate places for outdoor play and creative activity. Their practical appeal is the variety of spaces, rather than a promise about how often a particular child uses each one.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning through play and exploration, including communication, movement and creative activity. Group experiences sit alongside individual learning, and quieter periods for rest are part of the day. This gives the nursery day a rhythm that includes both activity and recovery.

In August 2023, familiar dough activities appeared across rooms, with tools adapted for different ages. Rolling and shaping gave children opportunities to strengthen their hands before writing. Toddlers also explored paint spread on foil, while planting activities allowed children to handle soil before adding seeds and herbs. The materials were simple; the different ways children could use them supplied the learning.

During that same month, children experimented with measuring ingredients and changing the consistency of a messy mixture. This connected early mathematics with the practical task of adjusting a mixture's consistency. Specialist teaching also included art and physical education alongside French and Spanish, adding experiences beyond the everyday room activities at that time.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden provides space for exploration and active play, with interactive play areas as well as the slide. Regular visits to local care homes include making decorations for residents to display. That gives community contact a concrete purpose children can take part in.

Outings depend on the weather and the children's learning. Past destinations include farms, shops, fire stations and a library, so families should understand trips as responsive experiences rather than a fixed weekly timetable. In August 2023, community experiences also included residential care-home visits and visits from the fire service and a dentist, bringing people and places beyond nursery into children's learning.

Relationships and Communication

Personalised settling sessions use a gradual introduction planned with parents. Comfort items and spare clothing are among the things families bring to the first settle, allowing that introduction to take account of familiar routines and practical needs. The parent app supplies updates during the day, giving families a connection with their child's activities between conversations with staff.

In August 2023, key workers were kept consistent where possible, and parents were told about changes. Younger children had introductory visits and a gradual move between rooms. Play-and-stay events gave parents opportunities to join nursery activities during the year. These arrangements made communication more than a handover at the beginning or end of a day.

School preparation also had a practical shape in August 2023: role play introduced school clothing, book bags and lunch boxes, while staff discussed the move with children and parents. The emphasis was on making unfamiliar routines recognisable.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described staff coordinating with outside professionals to agree support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is a dated judgement about practice, with specific collaboration behind the inclusion finding.

Each room had a quiet space in August 2023, giving children somewhere to pause within the room. Daily safety checks and a three-point system for allergies and dietary needs were also in use then. Staff development included supervision and feedback, with experienced colleagues supporting newer team members. The improvement point about adult interactions makes the quality of that continuing support especially relevant for parents.

Sessions and Attendance

The standard day lasts from 7.45am until 6pm. Early Start is a paid addition covering 7am to 7.45am, extending the beginning of the day for families who need it. Half-day sessions are not offered, so the attendance model centres on whole days even when parents collect earlier.

Opening hours are 7am to 6pm on weekdays. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and the Christmas period. Enquiries use the nursery's online form or telephone contact, and tours can be booked. A waiting list can be joined without a charge.

Getting There

On-site parking and buggy storage support the practicalities of travelling with a young child. East Croydon train station is a 5-minute drive away, giving families a named reference point for planning their route.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible government funding is accepted, including 15 and 30 hours free childcare for working families. Private childcare is also offered. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, which should distinguish the booked day from any Early Start addition.

An on-site chef prepares the food, and standard fees include meals, snacks and drinks. Nappies, wipes, sun cream and personal-care consumables are also included in standard fees.

For funded attendance, food and consumables carry separate supplements, already incorporated into the quoted package prices. These supplements are voluntary: parents wishing to supply their own items arrange a meeting with the manager about the relevant policies. That distinction matters when comparing a funded package with an ordinary private day.

A deposit is deducted from the first month's fees. The registration charge is non-refundable, with an exemption for children taking a funded-only placement. Fees are payable before the start of the month they cover; late payment attracts an administration charge.

• Adult interaction. August 2023 brought an improvement point about consistency in staff conversations with children. During a visit, look at how practitioners extend play and respond to children's ideas, as well as the activities themselves.
• Whole-day attendance. The standard day and Early Start extension serve different morning schedules, but half days are excluded. Use a tour to discuss how settling sessions would fit your child's introduction to this day pattern.
• Funded attendance. Food and consumables supplements can be declined through a discussion about supplying items yourself. How would your entitlement be scheduled across the year, and how would that affect the attendance package?
• Allergy arrangements. A three-point allergy system was in use in August 2023. Families managing allergies should confirm the current handling of their child's food and dietary requirements before starting.

Fennies Croydon, Addiscombe Road suits families seeking standard-day attendance or an extended morning through Early Start, with outdoor play and creative spaces central to the choice. The preschool slide, baby garden and community visits give this branch an individual character.

The August 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, tempered by the specific concern about consistency in adult interaction. For parents, the strongest decision combines the environment their child would use with close attention to how staff support play, settling and conversation.