Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

The Butterfly Patch

Ofsted: Good
(Aug 2025)
·
5.0(5 Google reviews) ·St John's Church Hall, Copse Road, COBHAM, KT11 2TW · Surrey
Number of places
36 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Aug 2025
Local authority
Surrey

About this day nursery

The Butterfly Patch Nursery & Preschool in Cobham is one of six locations, offering childcare for 51 weeks of the year in a welcoming and home-like atmosphere. The day nursery embraces The Curiosity Approach, encouraging children to learn through exploration with real-life, natural, and recycled materials rather than relying heavily on plastic toys.

This approach fosters imaginative play and promotes sustainability. The Cobham branch is the first Cambridge Early Years Learning Centre in the UK, providing an international early years curriculum for children aged 3 to 5.

This play-based, child-led programme, designed by global education experts, supports all aspects of child development and prepares children for school by nurturing their confidence, curiosity, and independence in a calm and creative setting. The day nursery offers dedicated groups for different age ranges: Glittering Glow Bugs (3 months to 2 years), Creative Caterpillars (2 to 3 years), and Bouncing Butterflies (Preschool), all following the EYFS framework and inspected by OFSTED.

In addition to core childcare, they offer extra activities like music classes, baby massage, language lessons (currently Spanish), and monthly evening date nights for parents. They provide both full and half-day sessions and operate long hours from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm.

The nursery emphasises providing good, honest food, with scratch-made vegetarian and pescatarian meals introduced in the Autumn. They also boast a free-flow garden and arrange regular outings for the children.

Fees can be paid via direct debit, and they accept various government funding schemes and childcare vouchers.

Our ethos

The Butterfly Patch Nursery & Preschool embraces The Curiosity Approach, encouraging children to learn through exploration with real-life, natural, and recycled materials. They implement a play-based, child-led programme aligning with the EYFS framework, fostering curiosity, confidence, and independence. The nursery also functions as the first Cambridge Early Years Learning Centre in the UK, offering an international early years curriculum.

What it's like

Children have strong relationships with staff and feel safe and secure at the nursery. Babies in particular receive a strong start to their early education. Staff in the baby room have high ambitions for their development and provide a nurturing and supportive environment that respects and values children's rights and wishes.

Curiosity ApproachCambridge Early Years Learning CentrePlay-based learningSustainability focusExtra-curricular activities

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Request pricing →

Key facts

Session types

Full & half-day childcare sessions, regular evening sessions

Food

Scratch-made Vegetarian & Pescatarian meals coming this Autumn

Opening hours

7:30am to 6:30pm Mon - Fri

Age range

3 months to preschool

Registered with Ofsted

2017

Waitlist

September 2026 spaces limited

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for The Butterfly Patch

Last inspected 12 August 2025 · Leanne Merritt

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children have strong relationships with staff and feel safe and secure at the nursery. Babies in particular receive a strong start to their early education. Staff in the baby room have high ambitions for their development and provide a nurturing and supportive environment that respects and values children's rights and wishes.

Inspector highlights

  • Children have strong relationships with staff and feel safe and secure.
  • Babies receive a strong start to their early education.
  • There is a broad, continuous provision of resources available for children to explore.
  • All children are taught to develop a love for books, stories and rhymes.
  • Staff promote children's communication and language well, interacting warmly and holding sensitive discussions.

Areas to develop

  • 1Strengthen the curriculum and support provided for staff to understand how to implement it consistently and effectively.
  • 2Ensure staff are clear about the best way to teach different skills to children, distinguishing between structured activities and independent play.
  • 3Embed and share the new curriculum with staff and parents to allow for assessment of its impact on children.
Inspection #10399876 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The provider has arrangements in place to work in partnership with multi-agency professionals and parents. These support staff to implement strategies to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children with SEND are supported to fully access the curriculum and make progress to close gaps in their learning.

Outdoor space

Staff share books throughout the day, both indoors and outside. The inspector observed staff's interactions during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this had on children's learning.

Google Reviews of The Butterfly Patch

5.0
(5 Google reviews)
Laura Nicholls
3 years ago

I couldn’t be happier with The Butterfly Patch. My daughter loves going there and her development has really come along since she started there. She’s much more confident in herself and playing with other children, and she is more independent. The Famly app they use is brilliant at keeping you updated on how your child is getting on and every week The Butterfly Patch sends you a personalised message with photos and a video on how your child is doing and developing so I’m never chasing them to ask how’s getting on, if she’s eaten, if they have remembered to put sun cream on her, etc. For me what makes this nursery so special is they go above and beyond. When my child was sick and she couldn’t attend nursery due to a fever, they proactively reached out to ask how she was doing and how much they were looking forward to having her back. Speaking to other parents, not all nurseries do this. I highly recommend this exceptional nursery!

Read on Google
Ana Saiote Weeks
3 years ago

My little one joined when she was just 9months! I wanted a nurturing environment that felt like home and the Butterfly Patch ticked all the boxes. She’s now 3 and loves pre-school! She’s learning so much and the staff is all very friendly and supportive! Highly recommend The Butterfly Patch!

Read on Google
Yasmin Albeyatti
5 years ago

Excellent nursery. Very homely and calm. Staff are well trained, enthusiastic and very kind to the children. The communication is excellent between staff and parents either at the door or through the Famly app/portal which allows direct communication to specific staff members and instant replies. My daughter settled in instantly and loves all the children and staff there. She goes to nursery with a huge amount of excitement.

Read on Google
Katie Los
3 years ago

So far my experience at the butterfly patch has been great. The team are all lovely and my son is really happy being left with them.

Read on Google
Matt Ball
7 years ago

Lovely staff both here in Cobham and also at the Thames Ditton branch. The children are nutured and cared for by consistent staff who show genuine care.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for The Butterfly Patch. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: December 2019

  • August 2025Good
  • December 2019Outstanding

Frequently asked about The Butterfly Patch

Nearby day nurseries in COBHAM

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Butterfly Patch.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more