Kiddy Care Nursery

A former church building and learning shaped by children's interests give Kiddy Care Nursery its character. In Redbridge's Goodmayes area, it has capacity for 35 children and accepts ages from three months to five years. The building is a concrete part of its identity; the more telling educational detail is the connection between experiences at home and activities at nursery.

At its February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, found safeguarding effective and judged support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and those learning English as an additional language, to be good. That assessment provides a positive starting point for families, alongside two specific priorities concerning conversation and individual learning needs.

Parent involvement runs through the offer. An enrolment assessment gathers information about the child, individual learning records are shared regularly, and a secure parent portal provides photographs and newsletters. These give families several ways to understand their child's nursery life.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning and development, including language, movement and social and emotional development. These areas connect: talking during an activity, handling its materials and learning to share can contribute to different aspects of development within the same experience.

All about Me is the assessment programme completed with parents when a child joins. It covers the framework's prime and specific areas of learning, giving staff information from home as well as nursery. Learning programmes draw on children's interests in both places. For parents, the useful principle is continuity: what a child already enjoys can help shape what they explore next.

Learning Journals are the individual records of children's experiences and are shared with families regularly. They provide a continuing account alongside that initial assessment, rather than leaving communication concentrated at enrolment. The parent portal has a different role, giving access to newsletters and photographs.

In February 2024, activities included practising toothbrushing with oversized toothbrushes and models of teeth. Children also helped draw up a shopping list, visited a shop to choose fruit including guava, and used a juicer with staff. These were tangible experiences: selecting ingredients, using equipment and discussing healthy choices connected several parts of the nursery day.

Outdoor and Community Life

Outdoor learning extends activities beyond the building. Regular outings include farms, places of worship and theme parks, with community experiences used to introduce children to different cultures. This gives the local surroundings a place in the learning programme rather than keeping exploration indoors.

In February 2024, children used the nursery's outdoor space and visited parks and forests for movement and encounters with nature. Parents also accompanied museum outings. The combination matters: there was space for outdoor play at nursery, while trips brought children into other environments with different things to notice and discuss.

Relationships and Communication

A key-person system supports the monitoring of each child's development. Together with All about Me and Learning Journals, it gives the relationship with parents a practical purpose: staff gather information about the child and share an account of their learning over time.

In February 2024, children sought comfort through cuddles and holding a practitioner's hand. Staff responded calmly when children became upset or tired, and used visual prompts to help them recognise feelings. Sharing resources and taking turns were supported during play. These examples show how everyday relationships and routines were used to help children manage nursery life.

Families can also take part in a progress check conducted with the local health visitor before their child's third birthday. Parents are invited to discuss development and raise concerns. That creates a specific opportunity for a conversation about health and learning, alongside the regular exchange of nursery records.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In February 2024, staff worked with parents and other professionals around children's needs, and some practitioners used children's home languages alongside English. The nursery's approach therefore included information from families and contact beyond its own staff team.

At the February 2024 inspection, Ofsted asked staff to allow children longer to formulate answers and called for additional mentoring so less-confident practitioners could build individual learning needs into activities. Both priorities are practical: a child needs space to contribute to a conversation, and an activity needs to connect with what that child is ready to learn.

In February 2024, meals and snacks supported healthy eating, with food choices also discussed during activities. Handwashing after messy play and managing toilet needs were part of children's routines, making personal care an opportunity to practise independence.

Sessions and Attendance

The nursery is based at Grace Church, The Acorn Centre, 2b Ashgrove Road, Ilford, IG3 9XE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year; closures include bank holidays, inset days and one week at Christmas. Those exceptions matter when matching childcare to a working calendar.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 0208 599 2481 or through the contact form. Parents are welcome to visit the setting and meet staff.

Getting There

Goodmayes station is less than a minute away, and local buses also serve the area. The station connection is a useful practical feature for families combining nursery with travel by public transport.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered on a term-time basis, with a maximum of 15 hours per week across 38 weeks. The Two Year Olds Entitlement is criteria-based and requires a local-authority code; the nursery claims funding each term for the sessions attended and reduces fees to reflect the funded hours taken.

To be included in the term's headcount allocation, a child must be enrolled by headcount day, which falls within the first two or three weeks of term. Private childcare is also offered. Families should obtain current prices in the nursery's written quotation.

• Conversation and individual learning. The February 2024 priorities concerned time for children to answer and mentoring for less-confident staff. During a visit, ask how practitioners now build these into activities and conversations.
• Care for the youngest children. The accepted age range begins at three months. Ask how a baby's sleep, feeding and settling arrangements would fit into the nursery day.
• Funding and the family calendar. Funding follows a 38-week pattern, while the nursery opens across the year with specified closures. Consider both the headcount deadline and the childcare needed beyond funded weeks when planning attendance.

Kiddy Care Nursery suits families who value involvement in their child's learning, regular community outings and a key-person relationship. All about Me and Learning Journals give that involvement a clear structure, while the station connection adds practical appeal.

The February 2024 assessment is positive, with concrete improvement priorities that deserve attention. Its strongest character comes from connecting home interests, hands-on activities and experiences beyond the nursery building.