“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 Tooting Bec
Little Starlings is a term-time nursery in Balham, one stop on the Northern line from Tooting Bec. Families from Tooting Bec and the surrounding SW17 streets regularly use the nursery, making the short journey to Balham as part of the morning commute. The nursery is on Endlesham Road, about eight minutes' walk from Balham station, and 15 minutes walk from Tooting Bec Common and welcomes children aged 16 months to 5 years. Flexible Monday to Thursday sessions suit families looking for consistent early years care, with both 15-hour and 30-hour funded places available for eligible families.
Why families choose us
Our approach
Families from Tooting Bec often tell us they want something smaller and less institutional than some of the larger nurseries on Tooting Bec Road. Little Starlings runs as a single mixed-age group, where 16-month-olds spend their days alongside children who are nearly ready for school. That mix is deliberate. Younger children pick up language and social cues from the older ones; older children build real responsibility by looking out for the youngest. It creates a community rather than a classroom, and that difference is something parents from SW17 notice from the first visit.
In practice
Before your child starts, Lisa calls you personally to understand their routine, what helps them settle, and any concerns you have. That call shapes their first week so nothing feels unfamiliar. Most staff have been at Little Starlings for over a decade, which means the faces your child sees on day one are the same ones they see every term. We run a 10-day settling programme with a simple promise: if your child is not settled by day 10, we add extra sessions at no cost. Both 15 and 30 hour funded places are available, and the team will talk you through how to use your entitlement.
For families in Tooting Bec
Most Tooting Bec families who come to Little Starlings are already travelling through Balham for work or the Northern line. Adding a nursery drop-off to that route adds less than 10 minutes to the morning. Sessions run Monday to Thursday, term-time only, which suits families who want childcare that keeps pace with the school calendar. Because the same group of children comes back each term, your child builds settled friendships rather than managing a constantly changing room.
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 Tooting Bec station, Little Starlings is one stop south on the Northern line (City branch) to Balham. The journey takes under five minutes. From Balham station, turn left onto Balham High Road, then left onto Nightingale Lane, and Endlesham Road is a short walk on the right - around eight minutes on foot in total. For families who prefer the bus, the 249 runs along Tooting Bec Road and connects with Balham. By car, the drive from Tooting Bec to Endlesham Road takes around 10 minutes via Tooting Bec Road and Nightingale Lane.
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
For families already commuting through Balham, the drop-off adds less than 10 minutes. The Northern line from Tooting Bec to Balham takes under five minutes, making it straightforward to fold into the morning routine.
Yes. We regularly have families travelling in from Tooting Bec and the surrounding SW17 roads. Get in touch or book a visit and we will be honest about current and upcoming availability.
We are a smaller, term-time nursery with a mixed-age group and a strong focus on consistent care. Families from Tooting Bec often choose us because they want something that feels more like an extension of home than a larger childcare setting.
Ofsted registered, inspected, and rated Good
Independently inspected so you do not have to take our word for it.