Little Cubs Day Nursery, Honor Oak

Children have opportunities to eat well and spend time outdoors every day throughout the year. Our in-house chef prepares fresh, balanced meals and snacks, while relaxed mealtimes give children opportunities to sit together, talk, explore different foods and develop growing independence around eating.

Open communication with families is an important part of nursery life. Through the GrandirUK App, families receive regular updates about their child’s day, development and activities, alongside parent meetings and informal conversations with the team at drop-off and pick-up.

These different ways of keeping in touch help families stay connected with their child’s nursery experience and share information with the team throughout their time with us.

Children at Little Cubs enjoy a varied mix of experiences, including arts and crafts, music and movement, PE, cooking, sensory play and language development games, adapted to suit different ages and stages.

Regular outings extend these experiences into the local community, with visits to nearby parks, green spaces and community venues around Honor Oak and Forest Hill. These trips give children opportunities to explore their surroundings, develop growing independence and become more familiar with the community around them.

Our nursery has dedicated rooms for babies, toddlers and preschool children, each thoughtfully arranged around the needs of that age and stage.

• Bear and Lion Cubs: Our baby room, providing a comfortable environment for sensory play, exploration and familiar routines.
  
  
• Tiger Cubs: Our toddler room, with opportunities for movement, exploration and developing social skills.
  
  
• Preschool rooms: Play-based spaces supporting growing independence, communication and the skills that help prepare children for school.

Across the nursery, our indoor spaces are well resourced and thoughtfully arranged, giving children opportunities to focus, explore and play without unnecessary distractions.

Outdoor space

Children have daily opportunities to play outdoors in our garden throughout the year. The garden includes an organic fruit and vegetable growing area, a mud kitchen and cosy spaces for books and quieter moments, alongside areas for active play and exploration.

Whether children are digging, growing, moving or sharing a story outdoors, the garden provides different ways to explore nature and develop their physical skills through play.

Care at Little Cubs is warm, attentive and consistent. Each room is thoughtfully arranged around the needs of children at that age and stage, giving them time to become familiar with their environment, routines and the people caring for them.

Our team also work closely with families, sharing regular updates and having open conversations about how each child is getting on. This helps us understand their individual needs and provide consistent, personal care throughout their time at nursery.

Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), supporting key areas of development including communication, physical development, social skills and emotional wellbeing.

Learning happens through play, exploration and meaningful experiences, with creative play and outdoor learning giving children different opportunities to develop their skills, make choices and grow in independence. These experiences help build strong foundations for the move to school and future learning.

Warm, nurturing relationships are at the heart of nursery life at Little Cubs. Love, care, compassion and honesty shape how our team get to know each child, respond to their individual needs and support them throughout the day.

Children learn through play and exploration, with familiar adults nearby to encourage their curiosity and help them feel comfortable trying new things. By building strong, consistent relationships, our team create an environment where children have opportunities to explore, make choices and develop growing independence.

For families with more than one child, having siblings at Little Cubs means one drop-off and pick-up, while each child can enjoy a room suited to their own age and stage.

Our baby, toddler and preschool rooms are all within the same nursery and share the garden, giving brothers and sisters opportunities to see each other and share parts of their nursery day. Shared outings into the local community can provide further opportunities to spend time together.

Sibling places are subject to availability, but where we have space in the appropriate room, we will always look at the options for welcoming brothers and sisters together.

Led by Nursery Manager Carol, our experienced team at Little Cubs Academy bring a strong understanding of Early Years care and education to their roles.

The team work closely together and take time to build familiar, consistent relationships with the children they support. By getting to know each child as an individual, they can understand their needs and provide responsive care throughout the nursery day.