Mildmay Nursery

Growing plants, books in two languages and children learning to manage their own snack: in May 2023, Mildmay Nursery's character came through in the small details of its day. Children compared their plants, watered them together and used conversation to share what they noticed. Learning had a practical purpose.

Ofsted rated Mildmay Nursery Outstanding at its 16 May 2023 inspection. The setting has 18 places in total and accepts children aged 24 to 60 months, at Mildmay Neighbourhood Learning Centre in Ilford. Capacity describes the whole nursery, rather than the number of children in a teaching group.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care: here, the May 2023 examples included learning through stories, making things, conversation and physical play. Staff connected activities to what they wanted individual children to learn, adjusting tasks where younger children needed help.

In May 2023, springtime learning brought together craft, recall and singing. Children made chicks with tools, talked about hatching and joined in the Chick Chick song, linking the activity to sounds and language. Plants growing in transparent cups gave children something real to observe and discuss with friends. These were connected experiences, rather than isolated craft tasks.

Reading also extended beyond a single story session. Comfortable spaces let children choose books alone or alongside friends, while books placed beside activities helped connect reading with their play. Dual-language books gave home languages a place in that experience. Rhymes involving letters and numbers added another way to practise language, and staff drew children into conversations about their ideas.

Outdoor and Community Life

In May 2023, the garden included climbing equipment, balance steps and a mud area. Children ran, climbed and jumped, with opportunities to practise larger movements as well as the smaller actions needed for writing. Painting walls with large brushes and drawing with thick chalk brought those experiences together.

The mud area also made independence practical. Children changed their footwear for outdoor play and managed their coats and shoes. Everyday routines gave them repeated opportunities to do things for themselves.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and judged that children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, alongside those learning English as an additional language, made excellent progress. Those findings matter for families weighing both support and educational quality.

In May 2023, staff used English and children's home languages to encourage them. The special educational needs and disabilities coordinator worked with families, colleagues and outside agencies to plan support around individual needs. Staff adapted activities and teaching spaces for smaller groups, and individual support helped children take part in the curriculum. The practical emphasis was on changing the provision to suit the child.

Self-care was part of the same daily picture. Children served toast, spread butter and poured drinks, as well as washing their hands before eating. Toothbrushing featured in pretend play and discussion about food. These examples put health and independence into actions children could understand.

Support extended to home routines in May 2023: staff shared learning activities with families and offered help with sleep and healthy habits. Staff themselves had development reviews, training, supervision and meetings. That gave practitioners opportunities to discuss their work and develop their skills.

Mildmay Nursery is based at Mildmay Neighbourhood Learning Centre, 2-4 Mildmay Road, Ilford, IG1 1DT. It operates during term time and closes for school holidays. Opening hours are 8.45am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, making the holiday calendar an important part of the family's childcare planning.

In May 2023, the nursery received funding for early education for children aged two, three and four. That is a dated account of participation, rather than a promise of an individual child's entitlement or attendance arrangement.

• Term-time calendar. Mildmay closes for school holidays. Families whose work continues through those breaks need a childcare plan that accommodates this timetable.
• Support in practice. In May 2023, staff adapted activities and spaces and worked with outside agencies. During a visit, ask how support would be planned around your child's communication and developmental needs.
• Attendance and costs. The opening window runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm. Which booking pattern would suit your child, and what would a written quotation cover for funded hours, food and consumables?

Mildmay suits families seeking term-time early education for children aged 24 to 60 months. Its May 2023 strengths were concrete: reading woven into play, purposeful conversation, outdoor movement and routines that encouraged independence. The Outstanding judgement adds weight to that account, while the term-time calendar is the clearest practical consideration. Families choosing it should give equal attention to how its attendance arrangements fit their week and how individual support would work for their child.