Excel Kids Day Nursery Romford

Soft play and park outings give Excel Kids Day Nursery Romford a strong physical thread, but its newest inspection picture is mixed. The setting is at Unit 11, The Mercury Mall, Mercury Gardens, Romford RM1 3EE, and has capacity for 28 children from birth to age five.

Ofsted's April 2026 report card found safeguarding standards met and behaviour, attitudes and routines at the expected standard. Five other areas needed attention: achievement, welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance. Parents should weigh the children's warm bonds with staff against these substantial improvement points.

The report published in April 2026 records children climbing, balancing and crawling through the soft-play area. Park outings added running, nature exploration, counting and comparing quantities. Babies joined in with familiar stories, songs and rhymes, while dough play introduced texture and simple ideas such as halves.

The learning offer needed attention. Language was not extended through enough sustained conversation or ambitious vocabulary, mathematical problem-solving was limited, and babies had too few well-planned sensory experiences. There were useful starting points: children counted and compared quantities outdoors, learned about halves while making dough, and concentrated as they rolled and prodded the material. The issue was not a complete lack of activity, but whether adults consistently turned those moments into deeper thinking and richer talk.

Physical confidence came through more securely. Children moved through tunnels, used hoops and balls, and learned road-safety messages on outings. Older children helped younger ones during play and trips, connecting movement with cooperation. For parents, the question is whether that purposeful adult support now reaches communication, problem-solving and sensory learning with the same consistency. The Early Years Foundation Stage means building children’s communication, physical, personal and early academic skills through play, observation and carefully chosen next steps. Here, the curriculum did not consistently turn assessment information into effective plans for every child.

Relationships were a clearer strength. Babies sought comfort from familiar adults, older children helped younger ones, and staff used everyday moments to teach sharing, turn-taking, handwashing and independence. The report also records children receiving healthy meals and snacks, including fresh fruit.

Support for children with SEND needed attention. Individual needs were observed and discussed with parents and external professionals, but targeted strategies were not applied consistently. Staff responsible for SEND also needed more detailed training and stronger leadership oversight.

Safeguarding standards were met, including staff suitability checks and mandatory training. However, weaknesses in risk assessment meant the environment was not consistently safe and secure. Safe sleeping arrangements for babies were positively recorded.

Kindness and independence were woven into ordinary moments. Adults encouraged children to share hoops, wait to choose snacks and put on outdoor clothing for themselves. Feelings were discussed regularly, giving children words for emotions as well as guidance on managing them. These routines matter because they help young children participate confidently rather than simply follow instructions.

The strongest concern for families needing SEND support is consistency. Some children who preferred solitary play did not get enough help to communicate, join social interactions or form relationships. Although observations, tracking and work with external professionals were in place, agreed targets did not reliably shape planning or practice. That distinction is important: identifying a need is only the start, and parents need to see how support changes the child’s actual day.

Families need to ask the nursery directly for its current session menu, funding arrangements and charge structure. The setting's central location inside The Mercury Mall may be convenient for some Romford families, but suitability depends on the booking pattern actually offered.

• Improvement actions. The report published in April 2026 required stronger risk assessment, targeted SEND support and staff training by 22 May 2026. Ask the nursery what changed after that deadline and request concrete examples of current practice.
• Communication and curriculum. Inspectors found missed opportunities for richer vocabulary, sustained conversation and broader problem-solving. Families should ask how planning and staff development now address these points.
• SEND provision. Support was not consistently translated from assessment into daily practice. Parents seeking additional support should discuss how targets are implemented, monitored and shared now.

The report published in April 2026 describes affectionate relationships, energetic soft play and purposeful park outings at Excel Kids Day Nursery Romford. It also identified weaknesses across curriculum, inclusion, risk assessment and leadership. It may suit families who value a central Romford setting and plenty of physical activity, provided they are satisfied by current evidence that the required improvements have taken hold.