Dicky Birds Day Nursery and Preschool Surbiton, Claremont Road

A growing garden, a library and purpose-built Forest School facilities give Claremont Road a clear emphasis on books, nature and physical activity. Children can tend plants, explore outdoors and take part in music, creative play and PE. These are useful points of interest for families who want movement and exploration woven into their child's nursery experience.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its June 2023 inspection. That judgement provides a dated assessment of the setting, with two practical areas for improvement: helping children work out problems more independently and organising some routines to keep them engaged.

The nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months. Its converted building sits just off the main road in Surbiton, close to Claremont Gardens, with Surbiton station within walking distance. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning and care. Here, the curriculum combines exploration, play and structured learning, with activities addressing communication, physical development and early learning. For parents, that means looking at how an activity helps a child practise a skill, as well as whether they enjoy it.

Books have a physical home in the library, where reading and storytelling are encouraged. Languages introduce children to communication in different languages, while music and creative activities add other ways to participate. The rooms are arranged for different age groups, and children move between them according to their development. Children's development informs their move between rooms.

In June 2023, babies explored foam with their hands and investigated natural materials and everyday objects. Older children matched letters with initial sounds, while conversations about clay animals gave staff opportunities to introduce vocabulary. These examples show how practical exploration and conversation contributed to learning at that time.

Imaginative play was also evident in June 2023. Younger children cared for dolls using doctors' kits; older children acted out holidays and airport experiences in a travel agent role-play area. Older children talked about holidays as part of their pretend play.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School adds outdoor learning led by a dedicated leader in purpose-built facilities. The Growing Garden gives children practical involvement in looking after plants and learning about the environment. Together, these provide different ways to engage with nature: exploring it and caring for it.

Daily outdoor play takes place in the spacious garden. Sport supports movement and motor skills, and yoga adds opportunities to practise coordination and flexibility. Regular community outings include parks and nearby spaces, extending children's experiences beyond the nursery building. Claremont Gardens is close by, although proximity alone does not establish it as an outing destination.

At the June 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described children forming secure relationships with their key person, with new babies and children settling quickly. The value for families is specific: children had a familiar adult to seek out for comfort when they needed it.

In June 2023, staff helped children discuss feelings and ways of managing them. Younger children practised sharing and taking turns. This gave emotional support a place within ordinary interactions, alongside the comforting relationships that helped children settle.

A SENCo role supports children with additional needs through support tailored to them. For a family considering the nursery, the useful next step is to discuss how that support would apply to their own child. A role and a mechanism are more informative than a general promise of inclusion.

Communication combines the Grandir UK app with parent evenings and events. Updates cover activities, learning experiences and developmental milestones, giving families points to discuss with staff and follow up at home. In June 2023, online learning files, tea mornings and parent meetings also helped parents stay involved in their children's learning.

Freshly prepared meals are part of the nursery day, and mealtimes encourage children to become more independent. In June 2023, babies were beginning to feed themselves, while older children served their own food. Those small tasks gave children opportunities to participate in their care.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 62 Claremont Road, Surbiton, KT6 4RH. The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm, and operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and Christmas. These closures matter when matching childcare to a working calendar, especially for families whose work continues through holiday periods.

Getting There

The converted building is just off the main road, close to local amenities and Claremont Gardens. Surbiton station is within walking distance, which may help families combining nursery with a rail commute.

Funding and Paid Extras

In June 2023, the nursery received funding for free early education for children aged three and four. This is a dated participation fact, rather than a promise about a particular child's entitlement or attendance arrangement today.

• Independent thinking. In June 2023, staff did not always encourage children to solve problems independently or challenge their thinking further. On a visit, ask how practitioners now judge when to help and when to give a child time to work something out.
• Transitions between activities. Some routines in June 2023 left children disengaged or unsettled. Ask to see how movement between activities is organised, because these moments can affect the flow of a child's day.
• Your child's attendance and support. With opening hours of 8am to 6pm and development-based room moves, discuss the booking arrangement and room that would suit your child, alongside any support they would need from the SENCo.

Claremont Road merits consideration from families who value outdoor exploration, books and active play. The Growing Garden, library and Forest School facilities give those priorities practical expression, while the app and parent events provide ways to stay involved.

Its weekday opening window suits families whose childcare needs fall between 8am and 6pm across the year. The June 2023 Good judgement is a useful reference point; the questions about independent thinking and transitions give a visit a clear purpose. A decision should bring those educational priorities together with the child's own needs and the family's attendance requirements.