Hi all, we are a young family with a 2 year-old, soon to move to the Honor Oak Park area - very excited! We are new to the area (but hoping to make friends there really soon ;-)) and would love some help in finding a nursery/preschool that will make the change as easy as possible on our little one.

Given most reviews available online either outdated or non-existent, I would love to hear your experiences, particularly with Little Cubs & Busy as Bees, or any other ones you are willing to shout about (recommendations or watch-outs), either here or via a private message if sensitive.

Thanks so much in advance! Greatly appreciate any insider views!

I personally wouldn’t bother applying to Little Cubs. They make you pay a (non-refundable) fee to be added to their waiting list and then most likely won’t give you a place, even when you’ve applied 12+ months in advance. I know lots of parents who wanted to view the nursery but couldn’t until they were “invited to” by the nursery. Most other nurseries do not charge a fee to be added to the waiting list, allow you to view the nursery and normally guarantee you a place. Some of my friends have viewed nurseries in their borough which guarantees you a spot when you pay the fee, can’t comment on Busy as bees.

Seedlings Day Nursery and Blossom’s Montessori Day House are rated as Outstanding nurseries in the area.

Our son is at Forest Hill Montessori on Rojak road which is walkable from
HOP and we are thrilled with it.

We live in HOP and our daughter goes to Little Elms Catford Green. It’s a little way to walk, but mainly through parks. And crucially they had places available (and were helpful and communicative - unlike the run-around other, closer nurseries gave us) and we love it there. They are brilliant with the kids, it has great standards, and it’s a relatively modern, purpose-built nursery. Would thoroughly recommend looking at them.