Nurseries in Croydon

No borough wide shortage is reported in Croydon Council's 2026 assessment. The council states that childcare provision is currently sufficient across all age groups.

Availability still differs between individual settings and days. Croydon does not publish a complete live vacancy total because not every provider reports vacancies to the council.

The borough has also created 456 additional childcare places through its expansion programme, including 214 places for children under 2.

Croydon Council's 2026 assessment gives these average hourly rates for the Central locality:

Day nursery:

Under 2: £8.70 per hour

2 year olds: £8.56 per hour

3 and 4 year olds: £8.55 per hour

Preschool:

Under 2: £8.47 per hour

2 year olds: £8.33 per hour

3 and 4 year olds: £7.69 per hour

Childminder:

Under 2: £6.36 per hour

2 year olds: £6.19 per hour

3 and 4 year olds: £6.39 per hour

These are council calculated averages from provider information and exclude charges such as meals, nappies, wipes and other extras.

Cost.

In Croydon's latest parent survey, 48% said childcare cost was the main reason they did not use childcare or limited the amount they used.

Another 12% said childcare was not available at the times they needed, while 7% reported difficulty getting clear information about funding. Nearly one quarter said they had found it difficult to find childcare.

This means parents should compare the final monthly bill and actual opening hours, not only whether a nursery has a vacant place.

Yes. Croydon Council records 75 childcare providers, excluding childminders, offering hours outside the typical 8am to 6pm working day.

Most of these settings open at 7am or 7:30am, close at 6:30pm, or provide both.

All 75 are day nurseries. The council currently records no group settings providing weekend childcare.

This makes day nurseries the strongest option for parents whose commute does not fit a school nursery timetable.

Yes. Eligible working parents can receive up to 30 funded hours a week from the term after their child reaches 9 months until school age. Croydon's 2026 assessment confirms that the final expansion to 30 hours took effect in September 2025.

Apply by:

31 March for an April start

31 August for a September start

31 December for a January start

Parents can apply once their child is 23 weeks old and must confirm that their details remain correct every 3 months.

Yes. In Croydon Council's latest provider survey, 89% of responding childcare providers said they offer funded places.

The same survey found 97.9% were registered for Tax Free Childcare.

A funding code still does not reserve a place at a particular nursery, so parents should confirm the setting's availability separately.

A school nursery normally provides a shorter day than a private day nursery.

Croydon's 2026 assessment describes school nursery classes as generally operating during term time with usual hours around 9am to 3:30pm.

A specific central Croydon example is The Minster Nursery and Infant School on Warrington Road, CR0 4BH. It has 60 part time nursery places and offers 30 hour places to eligible families where space is available.

The school also states that attending its nursery does not automatically give the child a Reception place. Parents must apply separately.

No. Croydon Council specifically records children receiving SEND support without an Education Health and Care Plan.

During 2024 to 2025, 386 preschool children received Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding. By November 2025, another 172 children attending private settings and childminders were recorded on SEND registers without SENIF or an EHCP, and 85 children were being supported at home by Croydon's Portage team.

Croydon's Early Years SEND team includes Portage advisers and setting support advisers who work with families and childcare providers.

Yes. St Giles School provides 6 full time equivalent early years places for children with complex medical needs, complex physical disabilities, severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Mainstream early years settings can also apply to Croydon Council for SEN Inclusion Funding where additional support is required.

Croydon's central Best Start services are currently coordinated through Selhurst Children's Centre at 23 Dagnall Park, SE25 5PL. The central network also delivers services from outreach locations across the central part of the borough.

Current Family Hub services include child development checks, parenting support, infant feeding, early language support, health visiting, SEND support and confidential appointments with Family Navigators.