First Little Steps Day Nursery Mitcham

Support for children facing barriers to learning is the clearest strength at First Little Steps Day Nursery Mitcham. At its June 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged inclusion Exceptional, welfare and wellbeing and leadership Strong standard, and achievement, behaviour and curriculum Expected standard, while identifying weaknesses in preschool group participation and staff’s ability to extend learning.

The nursery has capacity for 80 children, from birth to five, at 379 London Road, Mitcham. The distinction matters: its strongest assessment concerns inclusion rather than teaching across the board.

In June 2026, children counted duck eggs and waited for ducklings to hatch; learning experiences also included visiting pony days and a children’s fashion show celebrating individuality. These gave children concrete experiences to talk about, alongside books, songs and mathematical language used during play.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children’s learning, development and care. In June 2026, that translated into play, conversation and practical independence: children poured water, cleared their plates and explored ideas with friends. Babies practised finger movements by feeding cornflakes to toy dinosaurs; older children performed for others on an outdoor stage.

Choice was part of the day. In June 2026, older children selected activities, took responsibilities and played turn-taking board games. Daily outdoor play included running, climbing and balancing. These are useful examples of how learning extended beyond organised group activities.

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding standards met and highlighted targeted support plans, sign language and specialist interventions helping children with SEND make progress. This is the strongest reason for families seeking individual support to consider the nursery.

In June 2026, a sensory room was used to help children manage emotions, while a staffed sensory base supported children with SEND. Weekly sensory and physical interventions were delivered by staff trained for that work. Support plans connected individual targets with resources and provision, giving additional help a clear purpose.

Relationships also had practical expression. In June 2026, key persons listened at children’s level, settling arrangements helped children build relationships, and leaders supported families through school transition. Parent coffee mornings involved local charities supporting families of children with SEND.

Care routines respected children’s privacy. In June 2026, staff sought children’s agreement before nappy changes, adapted sleep routines individually and supervised sleeping babies. The nursery had also joined the supervised tooth brushing program, an organised way to develop dental-care habits.

The address is 379 London Road, Mitcham, CR4 4BF. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas. That opening window gives families a clear starting point for planning work and travel.

• Preschool participation. June 2026 recommendations called for better organisation of group activities. During a visit, ask how circle time and tidy-up now involve children who prefer to disengage.
• Deeper conversations. The June 2026 recommendations also addressed extending children’s knowledge through conversation. Ask for an example of how staff build on a child’s chosen activity.
• Individual attendance. In June 2026, leaders adapted nursery times to help children attend. Discuss how a booking pattern would work alongside your child’s support needs.

This nursery merits consideration by families seeking individualised support, especially where communication or other barriers affect a child’s participation. Its June 2026 inclusion assessment is a substantial strength. Families weighing preschool learning should also give the recommendations on group engagement and deeper conversation proper attention: the assessment was stronger for inclusion than for curriculum and teaching.