SmallExp
Nursery in South Croydon
Our Summary
About Us
Small Explorers St Francis
Small Explorers St Francis opened in May 2025, we provide early years care and education for children aged 9 months to 3 years in a warm, family-style environment.
Our setting combines cosy indoor spaces with a newly developed free-flow garden, giving children the freedom to explore and learn through play. We place a big focus on outdoor learning, regularly visiting local woods, and giving children a chance to explore the outside world around them. Our nurturing approach ensures each child feels safe, valued, and supported as they grow in confidence and curiosity. We believe in the power of self-led learning, where children are encouraged to follow their interests, make choices, and engage with their surroundings at their own pace.
Our highly qualified team are experienced with all ages, needs and many have their own children so they understand how to support families and children.
We have an in house chef who cooks healthy and nutritious meals for the children. The children are offered breakfast, morning snack, lunch, dessert, afternoon snack and tea.
Small Explorers St Francis is more than just childcare it’s a place where little minds and big imaginations thrive.
We accept all funded and non-funded children from the community and surrounding areas. We are open from 7:30 am to 5:00pm 50 weeks of the year, with flexible plans to meet working parents/careers needs.
Free entitlement hours –
15 hours x 38 weeks (term time) (570 hours) can be stretched to approximately 11 hours over 50 weeks (Full time).
Similarly, 30 hours x 38 weeks (term time) (1140 hours) can be stretched to roughly 22 hours over 51 weeks (full time).
Our Availability
Our Fees
- Childcare from £24.00 per morning
- Childcare from £24.00 per afternoon
- Childcare from £48.00 per day
- Childcare from £140.00 per week
- Childcare from £576.00 per month
Our rates are highly competitive and affordable. Please enquire for more details regarding our rates for different ages.
We offer term time and stretched funding.
Free entitlement hours –
15 hours x 38 weeks (term time) (570 hours) can be stretched to approximately 11 hours over 50 weeks (Full time).
Similarly, 30 hours x 38 weeks (term time) (1140 hours) can be stretched to roughly 22 hours over 51 weeks (full time).
Our Documents
- Ofsted Certificate (added 09/09/2026)
Reviews
5 out of 5
Latest reviews
Below are the latest reviews for SmallExp. Please note that reviews represent the subjective opinions of other Childcare.co.uk members and not of Childcare.co.uk. Parents must carry out their own checks and references on childcare providers to ensure that they are completely happy before enaging in the use of their services.
My daughter attended this nursery last year and she absolutely loved it. The staff honestly feel like family, they genuinely care about the children and are very knowledgeable, you can ask for their support with anything. My daughter came on leaps and bounds and they supported her so well with her separation anxiety. We miss you all! I’d recommend it to anyone.
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Lauren
on 09/09/2026
My son has attended this nursery since he was 11 months old. He is now 2 and half. He absolutely loves it and has made so much progress since joining. The team are lovely and have some much care and passion for their job. My son has a great relationship with all of them and has made lots of friends whilst being there. There is a lovely garden and they go on walks occasionally, which my son tells me about all the time. I couldn’t recommend the nursery enough.
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by
Emily
on 09/09/2026
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This profile was last updated on 9th September 2026 and has been produced from information provided to us by the user. We have not verified or confirmed the accuracy of any of the information and members should undertake their own vigorous checks and references. Please ensure you read our Safety Advice and information on how to Check Childcare Provider Documents.