Nurseries in Balham
Balham has 22 early-years settings in our data and 616 places, all in SW12. The mix is 12 day nurseries, 4 pre-schools, 3 school nursery classes, 2 independent-school settings and 1 nursery school. Settings with Montessori in the name: 2; with a bilingual name: 1.
Four stations are listed: Balham (rail and Tube), Clapham South and Tooting Bec on the Tube, and Wandsworth Common on the rail network. New report cards: 3, with 1 strong or better in at least four of six areas. On the older grades, Outstanding 3 and Good 10; no result yet: 0.
A single inspection can change the picture. We would treat the totals as a starting point and read each report for the specific areas that matter to you, such as how children settle or how outdoor space is used.
For borough-wide ranking, see the highest-rated nurseries in Wandsworth; for costs, see Wandsworth nursery fees.
Balham in numbers
22 early-years settings
- Day nurseries
- 12
- Pre-schools
- 4
- School nursery classes
- 3
- Independent schools (early years)
- 2
- Nursery schools
- 1
- Registered places
- 616
New Ofsted report cards
- Inspected under report cards
- 3
- Strong or exceptional in at least 4 of 6 areas
- 1
- Safeguarding standards not met
- 0
Report cards began in November 2025, so most settings still hold a grade from the previous framework.
Previous framework grades
- Outstanding
- 3
- Good
- 10
- Requires improvement
- 0
- Inadequate
- 0
- Not yet inspected
- 0
Every setting in Balham
22 of 22 settings in Balham
| Setting | Postcode | Places | Ofsted inspection | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 345 Nursery School BalhamPre-school | SW12 | 42 places | Good | Balham 270 m280 m from centre |
| Abacus Nursery SchoolDay nursery | SW12 | 80 places | Good | Balham 390 m280 m from centre |
| Alderbrook Primary SchoolSchool nursery classOfsted report for Alderbrook Primary School | SW12 | — | Early years: Good | Clapham South 490 m250 m from centre |
| Apples And Honey NightingaleDay nursery | SW12 | — | Outstanding | Wandsworth Common 450 m810 m from centre |
| Balham Nursery SchoolNursery school | SW12 | — | School inspection | Balham 390 m370 m from centre |
| Balham Rainbow NurseryDay nursery | SW12 | 46 places | Good | Balham 270 m280 m from centre |
| Broomwood Pre-Prep & Broomwood Prep-GirlsIndependent school (early years) | SW12 | — | School inspection | Wandsworth Common 530 m830 m from centre |
| Grove Hall Nursery LtdDay nursery | SW12 | 45 places | Good | Balham 590 m370 m from centre |
| Hornsby House SchoolIndependent school (early years) | SW12 | — | School inspection | Balham 360 m540 m from centre |
| Link Chinese Limited AlderbrookDay nurseryBilingualOfsted report for Link Chinese Limited Alderbrook | SW12 | 15 places | Expected standard in all 4 areas | Clapham South 500 m260 m from centre |
| Little StarlingsDay nursery | SW12 | 30 places | Good | Balham 400 m370 m from centre |
| Marmalade CaterpillarPre-school | SW12 | 40 places | Outstanding | Wandsworth Common 390 m860 m from centre |
| Marmalade OwlPre-school | SW12 | 40 places | Good | Clapham South 220 m540 m from centre |
| Nightingale 1 Montessori NurseryDay nurseryMontessori | SW12 | 36 places | Strong in 6 of 6 areas | Clapham South 630 m820 m from centre |
| Nightingales NurseryDay nurseryOfsted report for Nightingales Nursery | SW12 | 20 places | Good | Clapham South 220 m540 m from centre |
| Ravenstone Primary SchoolSchool nursery class | SW12 | — | Early years: Good | Balham 160 m570 m from centre |
| Sparkies Nursery & Pre-SchoolDay nursery | SW12 | 36 places | Good | Clapham South 630 m820 m from centre |
| The Montessori SchoolDay nurseryMontessori | SW12 | 51 places | Outstanding | Balham 440 m440 m from centre |
| Trinity St Mary's CofE Primary SchoolSchool nursery class | SW12 | — | Early years: Good | Balham 230 m600 m from centre |
| Wellington's NurseryDay nursery | SW12 | 40 places | Good | Balham 520 m760 m from centre |
| Woodward NurseryDay nursery | SW12 | 69 places | Strong in 1 of 6 areas | Balham 380 m620 m from centre |
| Yukon Tots & PreschoolPre-schoolOfsted report for Yukon Tots & Preschool | SW12 | 26 places | Good | Clapham South 380 m360 m from centre |
No settings match these filters.
Map
Settings by postcode district
- SW12 22 settings
Stations
| Station | Services | Settings within 800 m |
|---|---|---|
| Balham | National Rail, Underground | 16 |
| Wandsworth Common | National Rail | 11 |
| Clapham South | Underground | 8 |
| Tooting Bec | Underground | 0 |
Nurseries in Balham: questions
How many nurseries are there in Balham?
We list 22 early-years settings in Balham with 616 places. They are 12 day nurseries, 4 pre-schools, 1 nursery school, 3 school nursery classes and 2 independent-school settings.
Which Balham nurseries are rated highly?
New report cards: 3, with 1 strong or exceptional in at least four of six areas. Under the older grades, Outstanding: 3; Good: 10. Our Wandsworth highest-rated page shows the full ranked list and method.
Which stations are near Balham nurseries?
Balham (rail and Tube), Clapham South (Tube), Wandsworth Common (rail) and Tooting Bec (Tube) are listed for the area. Settings in SW12 vary in how far they are from each.
How do I get funded hours in Balham?
Balham is in Wandsworth, whose early years team publishes a funding page and runs a Family Information Service. If you work, the first step is a GOV.UK childcare account and its 11-digit code, which you re-confirm every 3 months. Two-year-old support goes through the council; three- and four-year-olds are arranged with the nursery.
