Dicky Birds Day Nursery and Preschool Raynes Park, Durham Road

The adore and care they show our son is genuine and constant. He was quite socially anxious when he started childcare centre, but the team went to such excellent efforts to make him comfortable and cheerful, his self‑assurance has grown immeasurably this past 18 months. Every day, my son comes home saying he’s “had enjoyable”! The range of activities and the experiences offered is incredible, and my son has learnt so much through playing and exploring – trips to the local park to playtime football is a particular favourite of his. The food offered to the kids is incredible, I sense highly confident that my son eats tasty, balanced, varied meals and snacks, and portions are generous with second helpings given when wanted. The bond my son has with the team at Dicky Birds has blown me away and exceeded my expectations. We don’t have family close by, but Dicky Birds have filled that gap and become extended family, a home-from-home for my son. I couldn’t suggest the childcare centre more highly. Dicky Birds Day Childcare centre and Preschool is a fantastic childcare centre.

The kids do a range of activities throughout the day and are well looked after.
The faculties are a bit worn though, and updates to the app are a bit patchy. The team have all been highly welcoming and truly helped our boy settle.

Short staffing leads to a rise in agency team who do not know the kids as well and therefore cannot help kids with their ongoing development needs in as significant a way. The long-serving team are to be commended for their engagement and dedication, and this can be seen in the passing down knowledge to you get team.
The childcare centre feels secure, is well-resourced, and kids are cared for. The provision of phonics has changed, and I would say this is not for the better. There is less structured playtime than previously and less detailed observations, which all point to a lack of resourcing and assistance for childcare centre team across the sector as they are expected to do the same with less money relative to the cost of living. The team are doing well despite being under significant pressure and a crisis in the sector.

Our kid has thrived at Dicky Birds. We sense well supported, and he is well cared for. Would highly suggest Durham Road – we have been there since 12 months. Lovely team in Pelicans is consistently bright and cheery.

Our son started at 1 year old. He is so cheerful, loved and supported in the childcare centre. All the team, from the management team to the individual team, are so supportive, attentive and welcoming. There is a real loving culture in this childcare centre.
Highly recommended to any parents. Dicky Birds Durham Road Childcare centre has been absolutely incredible!

We think a few of them are like an extended family. Our kids have strong bonds with them. They go there all day every day, and we can see how much they learn. The activities are varied; they do baking, drawing, painting, messy playtime, reading, singing and dancing, and they go to the park a couple of times a week.
The food is cooked on-site every day, and the menu is varied.
We are highly cheerful overall.
On the slightly negative side: It would be great to have parts of the building/rooms refreshed as some parts are old now.
The updates/emails from management are not regular, and the fees increased twice lately: once in September once coming up in April. It’s becoming highly expensive, and we don’t have a choice but to accept these fees. We are not businesses ourselves, so increasing the fees twice within eight months during this period of inflation is highly difficult for us. We are highly cheerful with Dicky Birds Durham Road.
All the team we know seem to deeply care about the kids.

It is currently a different childcare centre altogether from the nurturing and developmentally focused setting, where our older daughter spent her early years.
Rooms are understaffed, with the assistant manager often having to attend to the kids by herself at dropoff. Parents are asked to stay well into opening times to wait for room team to turn up. Temp team provide minimal attention to the kids and often leave within weeks, putting perm team under tremendous pressure.
Our kid came back with unexplained injuries on numerous occasions. Sometimes injury reports were not provided, as they hadn’t even noticed the large bruise on his face or open wounds on his hands. It also took 2 months for the team to complete an allergy care plan for our kid’s cow’s milk allergy when he first joined.
Daynurseries need to update their scoring system as we’d give 0 stars if we could. The childcare centre has unfortunately fallen well below standards expected.
We have been with this childcare centre for 5 yrs.

I would prefer more information about the menu and perhaps assistance in teeth brushing as other nurseries do this. Excellent care for my kid and consistently take an interest in my son’s development.

There is a massive shortage of team, often parents need to wait in the room as there are not enough team members to remain in ratio. Other rooms have over 30 kids in a small space. Activities like going to the park have been cut back due to team shortages so it feels like a long day for the kids to be kept inside the building. Updates and photos of what the kids are up to in the day are sporadic.
The room team are incredible though. So thoughtful, loving to the kids. They make a special effort with each of them. Unfortunately, standards at this childcare centre have truly dropped in the last 12 months or so.

Thank you for all you do to take care of our daughter. She has moved rooms and grown with the childcare centre. We’re highly grateful for the secure supportive setting you give her. Lovely welcoming team and inviting setting.