Playaway Nursery Dagenham, SRCC & Pre-school

Regular trips to Parsloes Park and the local library give this Dagenham nursery a life beyond its rooms. Based at Sydney Russell Children's Centre on Parsloes Avenue, Playaway combines play-led learning with opportunities to explore the neighbourhood. Those outings give children different places in which to practise communication and spend time together.

At its October 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The practical detail beneath that judgement matters: adults joined children's play, extended conversations and helped children build independence before changing rooms or starting school. There was also a clear improvement point around helping children understand and explain their feelings.

The accepted age range is three months to five years. Term-time morning and afternoon sessions provide shorter attendance options alongside the nursery's wider opening hours.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage guides learning through play, with adults helping children build the skills they will use at school. It is the educational framework here, rather than an extra programme. Regular visits to the local library and Parsloes Park take some of that exploration beyond the nursery itself.

In October 2023, activities were planned around children's interests and their developmental starting points. Adults watched what children could do, identified gaps and used those observations to decide what to introduce next. For parents, the useful distinction is between keeping children occupied and choosing play that helps an individual child take their next step.

Language received attention throughout the day in October 2023. Adults used songs, stories and conversation with younger children, while extending older children's vocabulary and modelling clearer pronunciation and grammar. They also joined play and asked questions, making conversation part of an activity rather than a separate exercise.

Outdoor and Community Life

In October 2023, children used outdoor spaces and equipment including bicycles, slides and climbing frames. These offered different ways to practise balance and larger movements. Play dough, sand and water activities involved smaller hand movements, including handling materials, filling and pouring.

Parsloes Park visits are regular, rather than tied to a stated weekly timetable. The library is another recurring destination. Together, these outings give families a concrete picture of how the nursery uses its surroundings, alongside the indoor and outdoor play described in October 2023.

At the October 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that children developed close relationships with practitioners and that children with SEND made good progress, supported by cooperation between the SENCo, families, practitioners and other professionals. That finding describes support built around an individual child's learning needs, with funding used for resources, experiences and additional help.

In October 2023, children learning English alongside another language were supported with familiar words from home, objects and picture cards. Books and other resources represented different families, abilities and cultures. These were practical ways to help children communicate and recognise their own experiences within nursery life.

Everyday care also included explaining what would happen next and asking children before nappy changes in October 2023. Adults passed information to colleagues when leaving a room. Such small exchanges made routines more predictable for children and kept relevant information moving between staff.

Emotional support was less consistent in October 2023. Children were invited to discuss feelings during group activities, but adults did not always acknowledge emotions during ordinary disagreements. The improvement required was to develop children's understanding of their own feelings and those of others. This is a useful point to explore through examples of how staff respond when play becomes frustrating.

Preparation for a change of room was practical in October 2023: children approaching preschool practised using a fork and drinking from an open cup. Those approaching school worked on recognising and writing letters from their names. Independence and early writing were developed through manageable tasks.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery opens Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, across the year, with closures at Christmas and on bank holidays. Term-time morning sessions run from 9am to noon and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. These shorter sessions matter for families organising care around a school-term routine.

Getting There

The address is Sydney Russell Children's Centre, Parsloes Avenue, Dagenham, RM9 5QS, within the site of Sydney Russell Secondary School. Local shops and bus stops are nearby.

Sharing a school site does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still need to use the local authority admissions process for a state-school application; nursery attendance should be considered separately from that decision.

• Help with feelings. October 2023 brought a specific improvement point about responding to children's emotions during everyday disagreements. On a visit, ask staff to explain how they help a child who is upset during play.
• Term-time attendance. Morning sessions are 9am to noon and afternoon sessions 1pm to 4pm on weekdays during term time. Compare those sessions with the care your family needs across school holidays.
• Starting nursery. For a baby joining from three months, what settling arrangements and daily updates would your family receive?

Playaway suits families considering term-time morning or afternoon sessions, as well as year-round nursery care. Regular Parsloes Park and library visits give its local surroundings a clear role in children's experiences, while the October 2023 findings describe purposeful language work and practical preparation for the next stage.

The emotional-development improvement point deserves attention alongside those strengths. For parents, the decision rests on the attendance pattern that fits their week and how staff explain their approach to supporting an individual child.