Celebrating 10 Years of The Butterfly Patch

This year, we're celebrating a milestone that's very special to us – 10 years of The Butterfly Patch.

When we opened our very first nursery in 2016, our aim was simple: to create a place where children felt safe, happy and excited to learn. A place where childhood could be filled with curiosity, imagination and plenty of opportunities to play, explore and discover.

Those values still guide everything we do today. Children's wellbeing and safeguarding remain at the heart of our nurseries, while our child-centred approach encourages every child to learn in their own way and at their own pace. Inspired by The Curiosity Approach, we create environments filled with natural, open-ended resources that spark creativity, independence and a genuine love of learning.

Over the past decade, we've had the privilege of being part of so many children's early years, supporting families across Surrey and South London. We've watched little ones make their first friendships, discover new interests, build confidence and take those exciting first steps towards Primary School.

Looking back, it's those everyday moments that mean the most.

Where It All Began

The Butterfly Patch first opened its doors in Thames Ditton in July 2016. From day one, we wanted to offer more than childcare. We wanted to create welcoming spaces where children could feel at home, build meaningful relationships and develop the confidence to explore the world around them.

As we've grown, that vision has remained the same. Every Butterfly Patch nursery has its own character, shaped by its dedicated team and local community, but all share the same commitment to nurturing children's individuality, encouraging learning through play and giving every child the very best start in life.

Our Story

July 2016 – Thames Ditton

Our very first nursery opened in Thames Ditton, marking the beginning of The Butterfly Patch. Although the nursery closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many of our families and team members continued with us at Hampton Court, helping that sense of community live on.

October 2017 – Cobham

Cobham became our second nursery and remains a much-loved setting today. It is now recognised as a Cambridge Early Years Centre, continuing to support local children and families.

November 2017 – Croydon

Later that year, we opened in Croydon. One of the loveliest things has been welcoming families back over the years as younger siblings join us too.

January 2018 – Molesey

We took on St Barnabas Pre-School, one of Surrey's oldest private nurseries. When the church ended the tenancy during the pandemic, many of the children and team moved across to Hampton Court, allowing those relationships to continue.

January 2019 – Hampton Court

Hampton Court opened just before the challenges of COVID-19. Despite an uncertain time for everyone, our team continued to support local families, and the nursery has continued to flourish ever since.

January 2019 – Morden Park Forest School

Our Forest School opened, giving children even more opportunities to explore the outdoors, build confidence and enjoy learning in nature.

February 2019 – Vauxhall

We also opened a nursery in Vauxhall shortly before the pandemic. Unfortunately, like many businesses at the time, it closed in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.

March 2019 – South Norwood Hill

South Norwood Hill quickly became part of the local community and reached a waiting list within its first six months. Today, it continues to be a popular choice for families.

May 2019 – Sutton

Our Sutton nursery opened at Avenue Primary Academy, allowing us to support even more local families.

2026 – Wallington

As we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we're also excited to be opening our newest nursery at Wallington Primary Academy this September. It's a wonderful way to begin the next chapter of The Butterfly Patch.

Looking Back

Over the last ten years, we've grown and changed in many ways, but the heart of The Butterfly Patch has stayed the same.

We still believe children learn best through play, exploration and meaningful experiences. We still believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued and encouraged to be themselves. And we still know that the relationships we build with children and families are at the centre of everything we do.

None of this would have been possible without the amazing families who have chosen us, the wonderful children who fill our nurseries with laughter every day, and our dedicated teams whose care and passion make such a difference.

Thank you for being part of our story.

Here's to the next 10 years!