Tic Toc Nursery Ilford

A vegetable patch and Forest School resources give Tic Toc Nursery Ilford a practical connection with nature: children can explore the natural world within the garden, alongside their indoor play. This Clayhall setting takes babies from 3 months and children up to age 5. Its appeal lies in hands-on learning, with room for children to choose what interests them.

At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall, judged education Good and found safeguarding effective. That gives families a dated quality assessment alongside the current offer. Full days, half days for babies and toddlers, and term-time-only attendance provide different ways to use the nursery.

Rooms and Ages

The Elephants Room accommodates babies and toddlers and offers half-day attendance. That is a useful distinction for families considering a shorter day for a younger child, rather than assuming the same session arrangements apply throughout the nursery.

In March 2024, the baby room contained natural materials and real produce for children to investigate through pretend play. Song sessions used scarves and shakers. Babies also experimented with ice painting and tackled courses involving climbing and balance: sensory exploration and movement were both part of their day.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the learning and development framework, covering language, movement, relationships, early literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. At Tic Toc, play chosen by children sits alongside activities led by practitioners, so personal interests and planned learning both have a place in the day.

The nursery adds mindfulness and relaxation practice, introduces phonics and explores cultures and festivals. Rainbow Rules are its named way of encouraging considerate behaviour and respect for others. These additions concern what children do and how they relate to one another; the EYFS remains the common framework beneath them. The curriculum page explains this balance.

In March 2024, children made play dough from recipes and explored reactions through volcano experiments. Toddlers collaborated on a large piece of abstract art. These examples bring the play-based approach into view: children could handle ingredients, try ideas and make something together, rather than simply watch an adult demonstrate.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School resources support exploration of nature, while the vegetable patch gives the garden a growing area as well as space for play. The claim here is access to resources for outdoor learning, rather than a separate scheduled Forest School programme.

In March 2024, the garden included a climbing wall, a slide and a ladder. Children rearranged blocks into structures and movement courses, while younger children used ride-on toys and practised with balls and rings. An outside kitchen, sand and water offered a different kind of exploration. Local outings also formed part of learning about the surrounding world at that time.

Relationships and Communication

In March 2024, key persons discussed children's development and next learning steps with parents at meetings. Families could take part in settling and were invited to special occasions. This made communication more substantial than a quick update: parents had a way to understand both what their child had done and what staff planned next.

Care routines at that time made space for children's preferences and voices. Practitioners knew the children they cared for, and staff and support assistants built relationships through activities the children enjoyed. For a parent weighing the learning offer, these everyday interactions matter alongside the activity list.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that staff used visual prompts, straightforward language and adapted activities for children with SEND, but needed to use strategies and resources more fully to support their learning and progress. This is the main qualification to the Good judgement. The issue concerned how consistently support was put into practice, rather than simply whether adaptations existed.

In March 2024, children practised talking about feelings and explored languages connected with their backgrounds. Staff also reviewed one another's practice and took part in training. Together, these details describe the everyday work around communication, emotional understanding and teaching, while keeping that account tied to its date.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 208 Clayhall Avenue, Ilford, IG5 0LE. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, and full-day care runs within that window. Half-day sessions apply to babies and toddlers in the Elephants Room; term-time-only places are another attendance option.

The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays, inset days and the period between Christmas and New Year. This makes the annual closure pattern relevant even for families using year-round care. Emergency or ad-hoc days can supplement a child's regular attendance and are charged separately on a pro-rata basis.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 020 8551 2577 or through the message option. The nursery also offers tour booking. Its durable allocation rule is first come, first served, with a refundable deposit used to hold a place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for eligible 2-year-olds at 15 hours per week, and for eligible 3- and 4-year-olds at 15 or 30 hours per week. Term-time-only attendance is offered separately; it should not be treated as a promise about how every funded arrangement will run. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation, with the fees page setting out the charge structure.

Food, drinks and snacks are included in nursery fees, with vegetarian meals cooked on site by an in-house chef, seasonal summer and winter menus, and a daily vegan option. Standard nappies and standard formula are also included, while families whose babies need specialist milk supply it themselves.

Activity costs are included in standard nursery fees. This is useful for comparing the total private childcare package, but funded hours and their associated extras need to be considered separately when agreeing an attendance arrangement.

• SEND support. The March 2024 improvement point concerned fuller use of learning strategies and resources. At a visit, ask how adaptations are planned, used throughout the day and reviewed for your child.
• Shorter days for younger children. Half-day sessions are tied to babies and toddlers in the Elephants Room. Ask how the session and settling arrangements would work around your child's sleep and feeding routines.
• Funded attendance and the total bill. The nursery accepts funding and includes several everyday items in its standard fees. Request a written breakdown for your proposed funded pattern, separating childcare, food, consumables and additional days.

Tic Toc suits families considering full-day attendance or half days for babies and toddlers, with term-time-only care providing a further option. Nature resources, a vegetable patch and play shaped around children's interests give its learning offer a clear character. Included meals, standard nappies and formula also simplify the private fee package.

The March 2024 Good judgement supports serious consideration, with the SEND improvement point carrying real weight for families whose child needs additional help. The decision turns on whether the attendance arrangement and day-to-day support fit the individual child.