“I have sent all three of my children to Little Starlings and couldn't have asked for a better start to nursery life. Lisa and the team could not be more loving and comforting to the children. My children became more confident and independent through their time there. I couldn't recommend the nursery more.”
48 Endlesham Road, SW12 8JL
Nursery near Clapham South
Little Starlings is a term-time nursery in Balham, just a short walk (or 1 stop on the tube) from Clapham South. Families from SW4 regularly make the short journey to drop off at Balham and continue into the City or Waterloo. The nursery is on Endlesham Road, and welcomes children aged 16 months to 5 years. Flexible Monday to Thursday sessions are designed to fit around a working week, with 15-hour and 30-hour funded places available for eligible families.
Why families choose us
Our approach
Little Starlings draws families from across the SW4 and SW12 boundary, partly because the Northern line makes Clapham South and Balham feel like the same neighbourhood. The nursery runs as a single mixed-age group, so your child is not placed in a room based on age and then moved as they grow. They stay within the same consistent group, building relationships with the same children and the same adults throughout their time at the nursery. That continuity is something Clapham South families consistently mention after visiting larger nurseries in SW4.
In practice
The settling process at Little Starlings is more gradual than most nurseries. Lisa calls each new family before they start to understand the child's routine and any anxieties, and the first 10 days are structured around building familiarity before the full session schedule begins. If a child needs more time, extra sessions are added at no cost. Staff have been at the nursery for over a decade on average, which means the relationships formed in the first weeks carry through to the last day.
For families in Clapham South
Clapham South is one stop on the Northern line to Balham, which means the journey to Little Starlings is shorter than most Clapham South families' commute into central London. Sessions run Monday to Thursday, term-time only, which suits families with structured working weeks or those splitting childcare across providers. The nursery is small and the group is consistent from term to term, so your child is not starting again with new staff or a new room each year.
Address
48 Endlesham Road, SW12 8JL
Phone
07803 324821Opening hours
Mon-Wed | 9:15am-3:30pm Thu | 9:15am-1:00pm
Ages
16 months to 5 years
Ofsted
Rated Good
Funding
15 & 30 hours government funding accepted
Getting here
From Clapham South station, Little Starlings is a short walk, or one stop on the Northern line (City branch) to Balham. Journey time is under five minutes. From Balham station, turn left out of the main exit onto Balham High Road, then left again onto Nightingale Lane, and Endlesham Road is a short walk on the right. For families who prefer the bus, the 155 runs between Clapham and Balham. Several Little Starlings families live in Clapham South and find the commute straightforward enough to use as part of a daily work journey into the City.
We also serve families from
Ofsted Rated Good
What local parents say
Nothing tells you more about a nursery than the families who are already there.
“Little starlings is the most delightful, loving little preschool. They have devoted and experienced staff who adapt to the needs of every individual child. My daughter has grown so very much socially, emotionally and in her learning here and I wouldn’t want her anywhere else. Sad to say she’ll be off to school in September but my son will follow her to little starlings. My daughter absolutely loves her adults and it’s clear from every interaction how much they love and care for her. It is a truly wonderful and unique preschool and we are lucky to have it here in Balham!”
“Our boy has really blossomed since starting at Little Starlings, and we genuinely think the caring approach from the staff has made all the difference. The team were so patient during those early weeks, gradually building his confidence, and he was everyday going to nursery with excitement. A great highlight is how much time they spend outside in the garden. Thank you so much Lisa and team!”
Take the next step
Come and see us for yourself
A tour is the best way to know whether we are the right fit. Come and meet the team, see the spaces, and ask us anything.
Not ready yet?
Things parents ask us
Common questions
Clapham South station is one stop from Balham on the Northern line, a journey of under five minutes. From Balham station it is around eight minutes on foot to the nursery on Endlesham Road.
Yes. We regularly have families from Clapham South. The short walk or tube journey makes the commute straightforward and many families tie the drop-off in with their own Northern line commute into the city.
We run Monday to Wednesday 9:15am to 3:30pm and Thursday 9:15am to 1pm, term-time only. Friday sessions are starting from September 2026. The term-time schedule suits families who want nursery to align with the school year.
Ofsted registered, inspected, and rated Good
Independently inspected so you do not have to take our word for it.