Little Rays Nursery in Croydon has been such a wonderful place for my child. From the very first day, the staff made us feel welcome and supported. Everyone is so caring and kind, and it’s clear they truly love what they do. The manager is incredibly supportive and always communicates openly with parents, which makes such a difference. I really appreciate how she takes time to listen, share updates, and ensure we always feel involved in our child’s day and development.
Day Nursery in Mitcham
A Mitcham nursery where every child has one key worker who truly knows them
Little Raye's Mitcham cares for children from birth to 5 years on Lewis Road. Each child is assigned a dedicated Key Worker who tracks their day and posts updates through the parent app, so you know what your child has been doing, eating and learning while you're at work.
Good- Ages welcomeBirth to 5 years
- Opening hoursMonday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm
- Government funding15 & 30 hours accepted
Ofsted registered, inspected, and rated Good
Independently inspected so you do not have to take our word for it.
"Children have secure bonds with staff and are confident to approach them for cuddles when they need to."
- Garden
- Mud kitchen
- Art studio
- Outdoor learning
- Freshly cooked meals
- Dedicated baby suite
- Extended hours
- Government funding
A nursery on Lewis Road, close to Mitcham Common
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Our space
Rooms are organised by age group, with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers each having their own space suited to what they're doing day to day. A role-play kitchen gives children somewhere to act out cooking and daily life, and flash cards and a visual timetable around the setting support children who are still building their English.
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Outdoors
Children get outside as part of the daily routine, with Mitcham Common nearby for walks and open space once children are old enough to venture further afield. Closer to home, outdoor time at the setting gives younger children fresh air and room to move every day.
Mitcham Eastfields station is around a 10 to 15 minute walk from Lewis Road, with Mitcham tram stop also within reach for the Croydon to Wimbledon line. Local buses serve the Mitcham area, and on-street parking is available near the nursery for drop-off and collection.
5 stars on Google
What Mitcham families say
As a parent, I have been extremely pleased with the care and education my child receives at Little Rayes Day Nursery. The staff are consistently warm, caring, and attentive to each child’s individual needs. They create a welcoming atmosphere where children feel safe, valued, and supported in their development. The nursery environment is clean, secure, and well-organised, offering a variety of stimulating activities that promote learning through play.
Our daughter has attended Little Raye's since she was one (almost four now) and we are so happy with her care and all carers/staff. She really appreciates her teachers and we value how caring and professional the relationship is.
Visit a nursery near you
Come and see Little Raye's for yourself
Get in touch and we'll arrange a visit to your nearest nursery, where you can meet the team, see the rooms and garden, and ask about daily routines and funding. It's the best way to know if we're right for your family.
Not ready yet?
Find us
Visit our nursery
Address
66 Lewis Road, Mitcham, CR4 3DE
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6:00pm
Age range
Birth to 5 years
Why families choose us
Why South London families choose Little Raye's
Every nursery says your child will be looked after. Here's what parents tell us actually makes the difference, from the people who know their day to the way they're kept close to it.
01Days that follow the child A key worker who knows them well
Every child has a dedicated key worker who tracks their progress and shares daily updates, so settling in feels personal rather than procedural. Learning is planned around the seven areas of the EYFS, with each month built around a theme shaped by the children's own interests.
02Room to explore, inside and out Bright rooms, gardens built for messy play
Bright, spacious rooms open onto outdoor areas designed to feel warm and homely rather than institutional. Children dig in the mud kitchen, explore nature in all weathers with the right clothing for it, and babies build early movement skills out in the garden.
03Built around your family Flexible hours and funded places that fit real life
Open 7:30am to 6:00pm, with 30 hour funded places for working families from 9 months and 15 hour entitlements from age 2 or 3 depending on eligibility, all stretched across the full year. You hear how your child's day went through daily updates, with sleep, meals, milestones and term reports kept in one place.
Every child has a dedicated Key Worker, and you can follow their meals, sleep and milestones through our parent app.
How we keep you closeGrowing room by room
Rooms that grow with your child, stage by stage
Babies explore frozen berries and build gross motor skills in the garden, toddlers take charge of the role-play kitchen, and pre-schoolers cut up their own snack and make fruit kebabs, each space shaped around what that age needs.
Babies
Ages 3 months to 2 years · 1:3 ratio
A typical day
Our baby room is a calm, home-from-home environment where each child has a dedicated key person from day one. Low lighting, sensory play, and a flexible routine built around each baby's natural rhythms.
Toddlers
Ages 2 to 3 years · 1:4 ratio
A typical day
The toddler room is a busy, curious place. Children explore through messy play, construction, books, and daily outdoor sessions. Language, independence, and friendships develop fast at this age.
Pre-school
Ages 3 to 5 years · 1:8 ratio
A typical day
Our pre-school room prepares children for the transition to Reception with a balance of structured learning and child-led discovery. We offer 15 and 30-hour funded places for eligible families.
Day in the life
A typical day at nursery
Ready to take the next step?
Booking a visit takes a couple of minutes and there is no obligation. Come and see the rooms for yourself.
Not ready yet?
Nursery Fees at Little Raye's
Clear, simple fees
Completely free, term time only
15 hrs funded
Free
Choose from
- 5 mornings or afternoons a week, 8am to 11am or 2pm to 5pm
- 3 days a week, 8am to 1pm
Means-tested 15 hours for eligible 2 year olds, term time only. A voluntary £22.50 contribution covers meals and activities.
All-year packages, funding spread over 51 weeks
3
days per week
30 hrs funded
£390.00per month
~£31 per day
4
days per week
30 hrs funded
£754.00per month
~£44 per day
5
days per week
30 hrs funded
£1,092.00per month
~£51 per day
3
days per week
30 hrs funded
£390.00per month
~£31 per day
4
days per week
30 hrs funded
£754.00per month
~£44 per day
5
days per week
30 hrs funded
£1,092.00per month
~£51 per day
All prices are per child. Monthly fees are spread across 12 months.
Explore our fees, funding support and simple enrolment process
Our other branches
Croydon
A nursery on Tamworth Road, close to Croydon's heart
37 Tamworth Road, Croydon, CR0 1XT
Selhurst
A nursery on Westbury Road where key workers know your child well
30 Westbury Road, Croydon, CR0 2ES
Things parents ask us
Common questions
Getting started
We're a small, independent family-run nursery group, which means decisions are made by people who know your child, not a head office. We're open 51 weeks of the year, closing only between Christmas and New Year, on bank holidays and for three training days.
We have three nurseries across South London: Mitcham, Croydon and Selhurst. Each one offers the same family-style care and EYFS-aligned approach, so take a look and see which is closest to you.
We care for children from birth to 5 years old, with every day shaped around the seven areas of EYFS learning. Babies and younger toddlers follow a gentler pace built around sleep and sensory play, while our pre-school children take part in more structured activities as they build towards starting school.
We'd always encourage a visit before registering, so you can see the rooms, meet the team and ask anything on your mind. Get in touch by phone or email and we'll arrange a time at your nearest nursery that suits you.
Places are offered on a first come, first served basis and availability varies by nursery and age group. The best way to find out what's open is to get in touch directly, and we'll let you know what's available now and coming up.
Fees and funding
Yes. We offer 30 hour funded places for working families from 9 months old, and the universal 15 hour entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds from the term after their third birthday, as well as means-tested 15 hour funding from the term after a child turns 2. Funded hours are stretched across the whole year, and we are happy to talk you through what applies to your family.
Our fees depend on your child's age and the number of days you need, with full published rates effective from 1 September 2025. Please get in touch or visit our Fees and Funding page for exact pricing, and we're glad to talk you through how funded hours affect your costs.
Safeguarding
All three of our nurseries are registered with Ofsted. Our Mitcham nursery was rated Good in all four areas at its last inspection in March 2022, and you can read each nursery's latest report from its own page. All staff complete mandatory safeguarding training and daily risk assessments are carried out as part of our everyday routine.