Cribs Day Nursery

A mud kitchen, a large climbing frame and daily garden access give Cribs Day Nursery a practical, outdoor thread to its play-based day. Based on Butchers Road in Canning Town, it has capacity for 27 children from birth to five. Its offer also extends to after-school care for children aged five to eight.

At its November 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged Cribs Good overall, found safeguarding effective and described work with outside agencies to develop individual support plans for children with special educational needs or disabilities. That is a dated assessment, rather than a description of every aspect of today's provision.

Individual development is central to the current approach: observations are recorded in online learning journeys, and parents take part in setting targets. Weekday opening runs from 7.30am to 6.30pm. For families, the combination brings a substantial opening window alongside a way to follow what their child is learning.

Learning and Activities

EYFS shapes the nursery's learning through play, covering language, physical development, relationships and later learning in areas such as mathematics and literacy. Cribs gives early emphasis to communication, social and emotional development, and movement. Messy play and freely chosen activities provide opportunities for children to explore their ideas, while planning draws on their interests and needs.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning concern how children learn: exploring possibilities, persisting when something is difficult and developing their own ideas. Here, that sits alongside the areas of learning rather than replacing them. The practical implication is that trying, experimenting and thinking through a problem matter alongside completing an activity.

In November 2022, mathematical play included counting and using mathematical language during everyday activities. A finger-gym activity involved stretching elastic bands around bolts to make patterns, giving children a concrete task that exercised small hand movements. These examples show the kinds of learning that can sit inside apparently simple play; they belong to that inspection period.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden is part of the current daily offer, with access for all children. Alongside the large climbing frame and mud kitchen, sand and water trays give children different materials to explore. This creates opportunities for physical activity as well as imaginative and sensory play, rather than making outdoor time solely a break from indoor learning.

In November 2022, different age groups shared outdoor play, allowing younger children to learn alongside older ones. Trips to local parks added physical challenges beyond the nursery garden. World International Day brought families and staff together through food, activities and traditional dress to celebrate their backgrounds. That event connects cultural learning with children's own families; it is an inspection-era example, with no frequency implied.

Relationships and Communication

The EYFS tracker system brings observations and assessments together in a child's online learning journey. Records span areas including physical development, language, literacy and mathematics, creating a picture of development over time. For parents, the useful feature is the connection between everyday observations and what staff plan next, rather than a collection of activity photographs alone.

Parents are involved in targets and individual programmes, with consultation about their child's needs. In November 2022, families knew their child's key person and discussed developmental needs in meetings. Familiar adults also provided reassurance when children explored their surroundings. The relationship between child, parent and practitioner therefore had practical expressions, through conversations and support during play.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Current SEND arrangements include working with parents, advisory teachers and other agencies, identifying needs and monitoring progress. Activities are adapted and resources allocated according to need, with children's interests and strengths taken into account. These are specific mechanisms families can discuss in relation to their own child, rather than a blanket assurance about every possible support requirement.

In November 2022, everyday independence included putting belongings away, hanging up coats, washing hands and serving food at mealtimes. Small routines gave children repeated opportunities to manage tasks themselves, with staff support.

Meals are freshly cooked at the nursery, and dietary requirements such as halal, vegan and dairy-free diets are taken into account. That makes food arrangements relevant to families' everyday routines as well as children's care.

Sessions and Attendance

Cribs operates at Ceylon Cottage, Butchers Road, Canning Town, E16 1PH. It opens Monday to Friday from 7.30am until 6.30pm across the year, closing for bank holidays, staff training and the Christmas period. Those closures matter when planning childcare around work: year-round operation still includes breaks.

After-school Clubs serve children aged five to eight, combining help with homework and activities that encourage imagination. School collection is also part of the offer. This is a separate service from care for babies and preschool children, and may be useful to families whose childcare needs extend beyond the early years.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by email at info@cribsdaynursery.com or by telephone on 0207 4744844.

Funding and Paid Extras

Cribs offers 15- and 30-hour government-funded childcare for the age groups two to three and three to five. Additional hours are charged separately. Tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers are accepted, giving families several payment routes alongside funded childcare.

There are different fee bands for children under two, those aged two to three and those aged three to five. Prices are discussed with management during a visit; families should obtain a current written quotation before agreeing their arrangement.

• Individual learning and language. At the November 2022 inspection, Ofsted identified weaknesses in tailoring the next steps in learning to each child and in extending vocabulary, and called for deeper staff understanding of the curriculum's purpose. During a visit, ask how observations now lead to individual challenges and richer conversations during play.
• Starting age and settling. The overall age range runs from birth to five, while admission arrangements specify entry from three months. For a young baby, clarify the starting age and discuss how settling will work around their familiar routines.
• Funded hours and everyday costs. Cribs offers funded childcare and cooks meals on site. Ask for one written breakdown covering the funding delivery pattern, additional hours, meals and non-food consumables, so the complete arrangement is clear before booking.

Cribs suits families looking for play-based early-years care with daily garden access, online learning journeys and involvement in their child's targets. Its after-school service also gives it relevance for families with older children who need homework support and collection from school.

The November 2022 Good judgement provides a useful assessment of quality at that time. The decision now should turn on how individual learning and language development are supported, alongside the practical fit of opening hours, closures and the agreed childcare costs.