Little Cubs Academy Honor Oak, Forest Hill Nursery & Pre-School

Two converted houses and a garden with an organic growing area give Little Cubs Academy Honor Oak, Forest Hill Nursery & Pre-School a clear character: children have space for active play, growing food and quieter moments with books. The nursery accepts children from 3 months to 5 years and has capacity for 66 children in total.

At its April 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, welfare and wellbeing, and leadership and governance to meet the Expected standard, while Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines received Needs attention; safeguarding standards were met. The behaviour weakness matters most for families choosing preschool care, because it affected the oldest children's emotional regulation and engagement with learning.

Rooms and Ages

Bear and Lion Cubs is the baby room, where sensory experiences, comfort and relationships with staff shape the day. Tiger Cubs, the toddler room, combines movement and exploration with social play, outdoor experiences and structured activities. Preschool rooms emphasise independence and preparation for school through planned play.

Natural materials and calm colours feature in the indoor spaces, while direct access to the large garden connects indoor activities with outdoor play. These physical arrangements give families concrete things to consider alongside the curriculum: the atmosphere of their child's room and the opportunities to move between different experiences.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework guides learning here: children explore, play creatively and develop communication, physical skills, social relationships and emotional understanding. Cooking, music and movement, PE, sensory activities and language games add practical ways to take part, with activities adapted to children's stages of development.

In April 2026, babies could move around their learning spaces and staff shared books that interested them; toddlers shaped play dough while exploring minibeasts. Specialist coaches worked alongside staff on physical development sessions. These examples show how interests and movement shaped learning at that time.

Early mathematics needs attention too. In April 2026, number songs and conversations about size were part of learning, but leaders had not developed mathematics sufficiently to build children's understanding consistently. This is a separate curriculum weakness from the preschool behaviour concern, and matters when assessing preparation for school.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden includes a mud kitchen, an organic fruit and vegetable growing area, and places for reading or quiet time. Outdoor play happens daily, with children encouraged to go outside in different weather conditions. Growing, active play and quieter activities therefore have their own place outdoors.

Regular outings explore the surrounding community. Trips may take in parks, green spaces and community venues around Honor Oak and Forest Hill; the exact destination can vary. In April 2026, children also played fishing games at an outdoor water tray and compared growing plants, connecting shared play with hands-on exploration.

Relationships and Communication

Parents receive updates about activities, development and their child's day through the nursery app, with meetings and informal conversations providing other opportunities to talk. This gives families several ways to stay involved in nursery life.

At the April 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that the key-person arrangements worked effectively, children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received effective support, and children generally made steady progress. In April 2026, staff made time to learn about children settling in, listening to parents to understand their needs and interests. That detail is useful for families thinking about the first weeks of nursery.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In April 2026, staff adjusted activities for children with SEND as their needs changed; one example used a shared interest in vehicles to encourage children to play together. Staff supporting children with barriers to learning also undertook training through external agencies, including the local authority. These were practical mechanisms for tailoring learning to individual children.

Sleep arrangements in April 2026 took account of children's needs and parents' wishes, while feeding and weaning were adapted to each child's development. Staff training included paediatric first aid and specific preparation for those working with babies.

An on-site chef prepares fresh food, and children receive balanced meals and snacks. In April 2026, staff supervised eating and encouraged handwashing and children learning to feed themselves.

Preparation for school included invitations for teachers from local schools to visit in April 2026. These invitations were intended to help children prepare for the next stage of education. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place at a local school.

Sessions and Attendance

Full day care serves children from 3 months to 5 years. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, with year-round opening except bank holidays and one week at Christmas. The Christmas closure is a practical consideration for families planning childcare around work.

Getting There

The address is 25-27 Boveney Road, London, SE23 3NP. Honor Oak Park station is a two-minute walk from the nursery, making the station a useful reference point for families considering their journey.

• Preschool behaviour support. Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines received Needs attention in April 2026, with staff not consistently helping older children manage emotions or understand expectations. Training and guidance on consistent behaviour strategies were required by 1 July 2026; on a visit, ask how staff now support story times, listening and emotional regulation.
• Early mathematics. In April 2026, mathematics activities did not consistently extend children's understanding. Families approaching school age should look closely at how staff develop ideas about number and size through play.
• Attendance and funding arrangements. Full day care and a Christmas closure shape the practical offer. When discussing a booking, what attendance arrangement and funding terms would apply to your child, including responsibility for meals and consumables?

Little Cubs Academy suits families seeking full day care across the baby, toddler and preschool stages, with daily garden play and regular community outings. Bear and Lion Cubs and Tiger Cubs give the younger stages clear identities, while the garden offers both active and quieter experiences.

The April 2026 findings demand closer scrutiny of preschool practice. Behaviour support and the development of early mathematics are the decisive considerations for families nearing the move to school, alongside the nursery's practical fit with their working week.