Magic Years Day Nursery

Play, independence and learning to understand other people shape the approach at Magic Years Day Nursery in Canning Town. Child-sized furniture and materials chosen for children's developmental stages give the practical setting for that approach. The emphasis is on children becoming more confident in what they can do, as well as developing early language and number skills.

Ofsted rated the nursery Good at its May 2021 inspection. That is a dated judgement, rather than a fresh assessment of today's care. The current age range runs from birth to five years, covering babies through to preschool children.

Full-time and part-time attendance are offered, with operation across 51 weeks of the year.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, the framework covering children's development through areas such as language, physical development and relationships, alongside early reading, mathematics and creative expression. Here, activities include art, literacy and maths, with communication and emotional development woven into the educational programme. The balance gives families a picture of learning that extends beyond early letters and numbers.

The purpose-built premises contain furniture sized for children and learning resources suited to their stage of development. Those are useful practical details: the physical environment is designed around young children rather than simply expecting them to adapt to adult spaces.

Creativity is part of the educational approach. Children are encouraged to use their imagination, develop ideas and think for themselves. Confidence and independence are explicit aims too, so the intended experience combines exploring ideas with becoming more capable in everyday life.

Relationships with families are part of the nursery's approach to learning. Staff work with parents and carers, recognising that children's development involves both home and nursery. For families, the value lies in treating parental knowledge as part of the child's education rather than keeping the two settings separate.

The nursery also provides What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage, a guide for parents explaining development and ways to support learning at home. Its suggestions are organised by age, with playful experiences for children and parents to share. For families, this provides a starting point for connecting home activities with the broader framework used at nursery.

Understanding feelings also receives attention. Children learn about respecting themselves and others, recognising other people's needs and responding to differences in race, gender and ability. This gives the behaviour approach a social purpose: learning how to live alongside other children, as well as understanding expectations.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 217 Barking Road, Canning Town, London E16 4HH. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, and the nursery operates for 51 weeks each year. Both full-time and part-time places form part of the attendance offer, giving families different ways to fit nursery into their week.

Contact is by telephone on 020 7511 8195, email at magicyearsnursery@hotmail.com or the online contact form. These provide direct routes for an initial enquiry.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes eligible two-year-olds holding an entitlement certificate or Golden ticket, and three-year-olds using the 15 or 30 hours entitlement. The condition matters for younger children: the two-year-old offer is tied to that entitlement documentation.

Private childcare is also offered.

• Attendance across the year. Full-time and part-time patterns sit within a 51-week operation. This suits families whose childcare needs extend beyond school terms; the weekday opening window should also fit the working day they need to cover.
• The inspection date. The Good judgement dates from May 2021. Give that timing appropriate weight when comparing the nursery with settings assessed more recently.
• Your child's daily care. The age range includes babies as well as preschool children. On a tour, ask how settling, sleep and communication with parents are organised for your child's stage, and how meals and consumables are charged or supplied.

Magic Years suits families seeking either full-time attendance or a part-time pattern across most of the year in Canning Town. Its clearest educational emphasis is the combination of creative learning, growing independence and consideration for other people. Child-sized furniture and stage-appropriate resources give that approach a concrete physical basis.

The May 2021 Good judgement belongs in the decision, with its date kept in view. For parents, the useful question is how this play-based approach and the practical attendance offer fit their own child and working week.