Open 8am-6pm

Set in the beautiful Glebe Meadow, Limpsfield our woodland nursery is open 8am – 6pm. We have designed our own purpose built nursery around the needs of our children. Open Monday to Friday. Pre-school hours, or you can tag on breakfast and afterschool care.

All funding accepted

All government funding is accepted and stretched over 43 weeks of the year. (please note we are not open every week of the year – please see our term dates below) Call us on 07812 522492 to register

Nursery Places

We provide nursery places for children from 18 months / turning 2 years that term – 5 year olds. Come for a look around – email  ali@panda-nursery.co.uk or give us a call on 07812 522492 .

Our Nursery

Nestled down on the glebe field surrounded by nature, our nursery provides a caring, nurturing environment for all our little Pandas and has been running for over 65 years. 5 years ago we built a purpose built premise, designed around the needs of the children and moved down from St Peter’s Hall, to our lovely new home.

We are not a business chain or committee led, we are run by a family who has dedicated over 35 years to providing all our children with the best learning experience and lots and lots of fun! We have an amazing, highly trained team, many who have been working at Panda for over 5 years and a few have just celebrated 10 years with us.

Our mission is to set children up for success by providing an environment and expert teaching to help children be the best they can be.

Our small class sizes offer a safe space for children to manage their emotions, to master toilet training and independence, and confidence – we support every unique child on their learning journey. When the time comes to move on to school, we work closely with local schools to ensure a seamless, easy transition on to their next step, ensuring your child is school ready and excited for their next adventure.             

Gallery

HAVE A LOOK AT WHAT GOES ON AT PANDA

Panda in a nutshell

Painting at Panda!

Getting messy!

writedance

Using shaving foam and paint to strengthen
our gross motor skills  

Britishvalues
Celebrating British values at snack time,
china cups, yummy fruit, listening to others,
having great conversations with good table
manners!

 

 

Setting Children up for Success

We work hard at setting all children up for success, which means identifying their barriers to learning, acting early when barriers to learning are identified with strategies to support and reduce these, helping all children to make great progress.

Every day is a fun adventure

We balance short, small group adult directed activities with child led play, making sure we have lots of time for children to explore and test out their new ideas on their own or with their peers. Every day we are off on a new adventure led by the children. We encourage independence and the development of skills which will support children to be great citizens and life long learners.

​We take children from 18 months /2 years old, it’s fine if they are still in nappies – we work with you when you and your child are ready for toilet training (our team have all been trained on ERIC’s best practice toilet training). Our children develop their confidence and independence in an environment where they feel safe and settled away from their parents.

​We build on basic skills: sharing, turn taking, making friends, using the toilet, developing their independence.  We also teach basic letters, numbers, colours and shapes.

We could be off on a nature walk on the field one day, jumping in muddy puddles, bathing babies or building obstacle courses.  We love reading stories, puppet shows, painting, running around outside and having lots of fun! We are always singing and dancing and we use this to support children’s imagination, expression and communication skills.  

Healthy Eating

Children are provided with fruit for morning snack and they bring a packed lunch in for lunchtime.

We cook fresh, home made, healthy and yummy food for our breakfast and afterschool clubs on site. Made by our wonderful nursery chefs. All allergies are catered for and we are a nut free zone.  We have achieved the Eat Well Start Well Award for the meals we provide.

Ensuring Inclusion for all

We pride ourselves in supporting all children to be included in the learning opportunities in our setting. Our SEN Team (Special Educational Needs) work hard supporting all children who need that little extra support. Our SENCO is Kelly Thompson supported by Ali Thompson and all Key Workers.

SENCO support is integrated with a child’s key person and we work together with parents and outside professionals (Speech & Language, Paediatric consultants, Health visitors etc.) to provide united support for our children. 

Panda Nursery, Limpsfield, near Oxted, Surrey


From one working parent to another…We understand how busy you are.

We are all working parents juggling work / life balance. We pride ourselves in being there to support our parents, from flexible sessions, that helping hand at drop off or a cuppa and chat when you are having a bad day.

We work with you to support your child through these precious early years. Open communication is really important to us.

Email is our main form of communication; ensuring even those busy working parents who can’t always pick / drop off are kept informed. We email a termly list of activities and dates giving you plenty of notice of those dates you need to book off and come in to join nursery events.

We also use a secure online journal to keep you updated of your child’s progress and have text system for those quick messages and reminders.

This is all in addition to the usual notice boards and we are around for a good old fashion chat whenever you need to.

Ali Thompson is around most days in reception to greet you and answer any queries you have.

It is really important to us that you are involved in your child’s journey with us. We encourage you to add posts to their online journal and come along to parent appointment and events.

We’re here to help, and do our best to support your child and family. Whether you are just having a bad day and need an cuppa and someone to talk too, or need help finding specific help groups or financial support, we will do our best to help.

More than just Early Years Practitioners 
“I’m so proud of my team – who together, work hard everyday to make Panda the best nursery around” Ali Thompson (Panda Director)

View our outline of A Panda Practitioner to see what outstanding qualities we expect from our team.

Recruiting the best team
When recruiting our team we look for that special sparkle. That person who excites, inspires and captures the attention of our children.

We also look for those with the skills, warmth and enthusiasm to fit into our hard working team. Most of our staff are parents themselves, and have the life experience parenthood brings. Many are Level 3 qualified and we all follow a comprehensive training programme. As a team we have high expectations for ourselves as well as our children.

We follow a Safer Recruitment process and all the latest safeguarding procedures. Staff complete an induction and probation process and have regular appraisals, 1 to 1 support meetings and training reviews.

Whole nursery learning
The Director, Room Leaders and Early Years Practitioners are Level 3 trained in childcare. We are all first aid, health and safety and Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene trained. We update our Paediatric First Aid qualification as a team every 3 years.

Our culture is one of whole nursery learning – for the children and staff. We all have training and development plans and regularly attend courses. We work hard to ensure we have a clear understanding of how children learn, and how to provide rich, varied, learning experiences.

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A bit about our Director

Me-2015-web

I’ve been involved with Panda for over 15 years now. I started out supporting my mother in law June Thompson who dedicated over 19 years to Panda and is still on hand now!

I’m crystal clear on my vision to make Panda Nursery the best place for children to learn and develop and uncompromising on continuously reflecting and improving all we do to ensure we follow outstanding practice. I want the best for my children and see all children at Panda as part of our family. I base all we do on – would it be good enough for my child?  Would I be happy as a parent?  

 I started to support June Thompson with finance and accounting, managing HR and working on improving internal and external communications. Once I had my children my outlook on life changed. My love of Panda grew along with my wish to be around more for my children and help support them and many other children with the best start they can have in their early years. I slowly became more involved with supporting the business and took over  from my mother-in-law, June Thompson in September 2014.

I have 2 amazing children; both my son and daughter came to Panda and are still involved.

With a 1st Class (HONS) Management Studies degree (Bsc) from Brunel University, I worked in Marketing for over 10 years. Being part of and then managing Marketing teams in Insurance and IT.  While working in Marketing I completed a Postgraduate CIM Diploma in Marketing and went on to become a Chartered Marketer with CIM Membership (MCIM).  As my focus on Panda grew I studied and completed the Level 3 Children’s & Young Person Diploma. I now aim to complete a short course each term to keep my knowledge fresh and drive our brilliant nursery to continuously improve.

I love hearing your views and am happy to chat about any concerns. You can find me in reception, email me on ali@panda-nursery.co.uk or call me on 07812 522492. Come and have a chat.

Ali Thompson
Panda Nursery Director
Level 3 Children’s & Young Person Diploma
Management Studies Bsc (HONS) 1st Class
Postgraduate CIM Diploma in Marketing – MCIM Chartered Marketer

 

Every day we aim to be one step better than we were yesterday.

We regularly review our sessions, routines and environment at a management and team level to ensure we are providing best practice and meeting the needs of our children.

At least one of us a term is on a training course and bring back a wealth of knowledge to share with our team. We welcome parent feedback at any time, we’ll always acknowledge your comments and feedback what action we’ve taken.

We also work closely with other nurseries, childminders and nannies in the area, learning from each other and sharing ideas. We work together when we share a child between settings to support a joined up, complete learning journey.

 

Happy Parents

WHAT PARENTS SAY ABOUT US

Important Info

OUR COSTS, OPENING HOURS, TERM TIMES ETC...

Standard Nursery Fees

Opening Times
Monday to Friday
43 weeks of the year
Standard day fee – includes consumables, activities, events and food as below.
Minimum 3 mornings or afternoons or 2 full days
Full days  Explorers 2-3 yrs    Adventurers 3 – 4 yrs
8:00 – 18:00£98     £87.50           
8:30 – 15:45£71.05       £63.43
   
Build your own day   
Breakfast: 8:00 –  8:30
including breakfast
£5.90 £5.38
Morning:  8:30 – 12:30
including snack
£40.20    £36
Afternoon: 12:30 – 15:45£31.85   £28.43
Late pick up: 15:45 – 16:30£7.35   £6.57
Dinner: 16:30 – 18:00
including dinner
£17.20  £15.62

Childcare Funding

Please email ali@panda-nursery.co.uk to ask about our fully funded offer.

We accept all forms of Government Funding and stretch it across the 43 weeks we are open. We invoice on a termly basis, with a monthly payment schedule, to ensure the funding entitlement does not exceed the limits set by Surrey County Council each term.

We are open from 8:00 – 18:00. You can choose morning, afternoon or full days and the funding is applied as in the table below. Please email ali@panda-nursery.co.uk for our full funding guide.

Funded SessionsMaximum number of funded hours per sessionConsumables, activities and events charge* Food Charge
per session
Morning    8:30 – 12:303.5£3 per morning sessionSnack £1
Afternoon   12:30 – 15:453.25£3 per afternoon session 
Pre-school day  8:30 – 15:455£5 per daySnack £1
Full day
(3+ full days)
8:00 – 18:00
8:00 – 18:00
7.5
8
£7 per day
£7 per day
Breakfast £1.50
Snack £1
Dinner £2.50

You can choose to add on additional hours outside the funding entitlement. We offer full sessions not ad hoc hours.

The cost for any additional hours which you choose to purchase outside of your funding entitlement is:
Explorers Room – £9.80 per hour, Adventurers Room – £9.80 for 2-year-olds turning 3 years and £9.00 for 3 – 4-year-olds per hour

Government funding is not intended to cover the costs of food, other consumables, additional hours or additional services, these are charged for separately and are not a condition of your child accessing their EYFE place

There are no conditions to accessing a EYFE funded-only place at Panda Nursery, including:

For FEET Funded and those in receipt of EYPP or Deprivation Funding all hours at nursery will be covered by funding up to the funded limit of the 15-hour entitlements – 570 hours / 30-hour entitlements – 1140 hours. You will also not be charged the consumable fee. Please speak to the Nursery Manager about our fully funded package. To find out more about EYPP funding – visit the Surrey Early Years Website

You can see if you are eligible for government funded childcare by visiting: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk and please feel free to call us to discuss your funding options on 07812 522492.


Waiting List

Places are limited and we operate a waiting list system.
To register your place on our waiting list please email ali@panda-nursery.co.uk for an application form.

We ask for a £25 application fee which covers the cost of processing new applicants and confirms your place on our waiting list. It is not a deposit. The fee does not guarantee the full 15 / 30 hours or any specific sessions as sessions are offered on availability. We do our best to offer a place around your preferred start date, but places are limited and the start date on your application form is not guaranteed by the application fee.  Once you are on our waiting list we will contact you as soon as we know a place is available and in which sessions.

Our main intake is in September. We do take children throughout the year but places are more limited.

If your child is eligible for government funding at the time of application then you are not required to pay this application fee. Unless you wish to register a place on the waiting list over 10 weeks in advance of your preferred start date.

A young child playing with a wooden piece of wood

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Opening Times   

We are open 8am – 6pm every week day for 43 weeks of the
year. We are closed on Bank holidays and Surrey School Half Term
breaks

Term dates: 2025 – 2026

Autumn Term: Monday 1 Sept – Friday 19 December 2025
(Half Term break (Panda closed): 27 October – 31 October)

Spring Term: Monday 5 January – Thursday 2 April 2026
(Half Term break (Panda closed) 16 February – 20 February)

Summer Term: Monday 13 April – Friday 7 August 2026
(Half Term break (Panda Closed 25 May – 29 May)

A couple of young boys playing with stuffed animals

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

Blog

OUR DAILY LIFE

Location and Contact details

Ali Thompson - Director, Telephone 07812 522492, Email ali@panda-nursery.co.uk

Panda Nursery, Glebe Meadow, Limpsfield, Surrey RH8 0DG

Driven by our dream for Panda Nursery to have its own home, we have designed a purpose built, amazing building which provides the absolute best learning environment for our children. Nestled in the woodland and beautiful green space of the Glebe Meadow we take advantage of all the nature, and countryside around us.

We are located at the bottom of St Peter’s Hall car park – on the Glebe Meadow. We have plenty of parking which enables you to quickly drop off and pick up as we know your time is precious. We are under 10 minutes from Oxted or Hurst Green train station so can support working, commuting families.

You can request an application form by emailing ali@panda-nursery.co.uk or giving us a call on 07812 522492

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Copyright 2019  Panda Nursery (Panda Pre-school Ltd)
All rights reserved.

Copyright 2016 Hurst Green & Holland
Children’s Centre. All Rights Reserved.