Little Elms Daycare Nursery Peninsula

In September 2024, cuddles, shared rhymes and experiments with play dough gave Little Elms Daycare Nursery Peninsula its character: personal care sat alongside hands-on exploration. At its September 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall, while identifying staff subject knowledge as the area needing further development.

The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months at Unit 1, 42 Chandlers Avenue, London SE10 0GE. Its inspection-time strengths were grounded in everyday interactions rather than a named programme: familiar songs for babies, sensory exploration for older children and practical steps towards independence.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, the September 2024 examples show how that translates into play: babies investigated paint and brushes, toddlers repeatedly built and demolished sand castles, and preschool children mixed ingredients for play dough. These activities gave children reasons to explore materials and keep trying.

In September 2024, physical learning progressed from babies pulling themselves upright and crawling on a climbing frame to older children joining action songs and running outdoors. The equipment and activities supported different stages of movement.

Language was woven into these experiences. During that month, staff repeated action words while toddlers played with sand, while familiar songs encouraged babies to experiment with sounds. Demonstrating block-building also gave children a practical starting point for their own play.

At the September 2024 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and strong SEND support through professional links and detailed individual care plans, with those children making good progress.

In September 2024, staff adapted their interactions to individual children, using home languages where possible and sharing books and cuddles with babies. Information from parents about a recent holiday or a new sibling helped staff respond to changes in children's emotional needs. Care took account of life beyond the nursery.

Picture timetables and advance notice of tidying helped children manage changes of activity that month. Everyday responsibilities mattered too: older children served food and cleared their plates, while younger children practised putting on coats and shoes. Turn-taking, handwashing and reminders about safe use of the climbing frame made social expectations concrete.

Managers also coached staff and provided guidance and training in September 2024. Staff felt well supported, although gaps in subject knowledge sometimes restricted how far adults could develop an activity.

The address is Unit 1, 42 Chandlers Avenue, London SE10 0GE. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with bank-holiday closures and an earlier finish on Christmas Eve.

In September 2024, the nursery provided government-funded childcare. That dated participation is separate from the day-to-day opening hours.

• Depth of teaching. The September 2024 improvement action concerned adults' subject knowledge. Families should weigh the positive examples of play against the need for staff to extend learning further.
• Attendance planning. The weekday opening window runs from 7.30am to 6pm. At a visit, which booking pattern would fit your child's routine and your working hours?

Little Elms Daycare Nursery Peninsula suits families seeking weekday childcare who value the play-based learning and practical opportunities for independence seen in September 2024. That assessment gives a positive picture of relationships and support, balanced by a specific teaching-development priority. Its most persuasive detail was the connection between care and learning: familiar language, manageable routines and activities children could explore for themselves.