Anyone else struggling to find a daycare nursery place in Tooting?

[Alisonmama]

Hi everyone,

I’m starting to feel a bit panicked about finding a nursery place for my little one in Tooting Broadway. My maternity leave is coming to an end. Every nursery I’ve contacted so far seems to be fully booked, some even have waiting lists until 2027 or 2028, which honestly feels impossible.

We’re local to Tooting Leisure Centre, and I walk past it all the time — there’s so much footfall in the area that I assumed nurseries would have spaces, but apparently not. I came across Petite Ambassadors Day Nursery inside the leisure centre. The website looks really lovely from what I can see, and they seem to follow a Montessori and forest school approach, which is exactly what I want.

Has anyone here had any experience with them or heard anything, good or bad? I’d also really appreciate any other realistic nursery recommendations nearby - ideally somewhere that might actually have places before my child is ready for university lol😅

I’d be so grateful for any tips. This whole process is honestly more stressful than I expected.

I mean this kindly but surely you thought about this earlier?! We ended up moving when I was on mat leave but we had a place lined up before I even gave birth when we were down in London! Get on some waiting lists and hope there is some movement and spaces come up!

Why did you leave it so late?

Look at childminders too.

Not a massively helpful or kind response!!

op try posting on nappy valley net or local tooting facebook pages if you’re on Facebook? Good luck x

It’s not helpful now I know, but we registered at our local nursery when I was three months pregnant, and still didn’t get a space until 3 months after I was planned back to work! There just isn’t enough space in London. Best of luck finding somewhere, I remember well how stressful it is. ❤️

I am a bit surprised as primary schools in the area have falling rolls. However some people do register for nurseries when they are pregnant which doesn't help.

It’s not helpful now I know, but we registered at our local nursery when I was three months pregnant,

Just crazy to me!

@Alisonmama you will find space, also look at childminders.

My son is 18 now and we don’t live in Tooting any more but he went to Toots in Totterdown (?) St. I had a nightmare finding a nursery place because we had one lined up then they had a couple of staff members leave suddenly and they withdrew the place. But in the end Toots fitted us in and it was wonderful. I’ve googled and it’s still there.

Contact your local authority early years service. They can act as a brokerage service for you.

Check to see if there is a local Facebook group (there is one for Streatham nearby) and ask there. That will probably give you some good information.

thanks for the suggestion of nappy valley net x