Kiddie Corner

Kiddie Corner: childcare and nursery in New Malden

Kiddie Corner is a childcare and nursery service based in New Malden, Surrey, operating in a home environment. It is run by Bisantha Edirisinghe, who in January 2015 left Montessori teaching to dedicate herself to childcare. The setting cares for children from birth to school age and combines the requirements of the Early Years Statutory Framework with the Montessori method.

The setting's philosophy is based on learning through play and a personalised approach. Each day 6 to 10 children attend, allowing Bisantha and her assistants to tailor the Early Years curriculum to each child's individual needs and interests. The environment includes a playroom, a garden and various outings and activities called 'Kiddiecorner adventures'.

Activities and services

Kiddie Corner organises a daily programme covering different areas of development:

• Learning activities: stimulating experiences and educational activities tailored to each child's developmental needs.
• Outdoor play: safe and fun playtime to promote physical health and social interaction.
• Nutritious meals: balanced, healthy menus provided daily.
• Social interaction and creative expression: opportunities to develop social skills and imagination.

The setting operates a 'key person' system: each child is assigned a key adult who supports their emotional well-being, maintains contact with parents, updates the learning journey and plans activities based on daily observations. Weekly planning is based on the children's interests and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum, with an emphasis on child-initiated learning.

Admission and settling-in period

The admission process begins with an arranged visit, after which the welcome booklet and the setting's policies are sent by email. Once the place is confirmed and fees are paid, parents receive a pack with contracts and agreements. Required documents include the child's birth certificate, proof of address, parent ID and evidence of eligibility for free education. Two weeks before starting, settling-in sessions are arranged to ease the transition, and after the first session forms are completed to address each child's specific needs.

The setting offers a personalised settling-in period. If a child does not manage to settle after two months, termination of the contract may be considered for the child's benefit. Kiddie Corner also operates an open door policy and offers a free trial session.

Funding and support

Kiddie Corner offers 15 to 30 hours of free education funded by Merton Council, accepts childcare vouchers and provides support for children with special educational needs (SEN) and those with English as an additional language. The setting describes itself as a multicultural and friendly environment, with a close relationship with families.

Manager's profile

Bisantha Edirisinghe lives in New Malden, Surrey, with her husband and two children. Before dedicating herself to childcare, she worked as a Montessori teacher at Rosalia Edwards Montessori School. Her experience includes the daily care of children from birth to school age, meal preparation, toilet training, planning activities and outings based on the children's interests, building strong bonds with the children and their families, and producing progress reports such as starting points, next step reports, EYFS trackers, two-year progress checks and transition reports. She keeps her training and knowledge of the EYFS statutory framework and the Montessori method up to date.

Hours and location

The setting opens Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, and remains closed at weekends. The address is 35 Byron Avenue, New Malden KT3 6EX.

Location and contact

35 Byron Avenue, New Malden KT3 6EX · Phone: +44 7736 248724 · Email: info@kiddiecorneruk.co.uk · Hours: Monday to Friday: 7:30 am - 6:00 pm. Weekend: closed.