Precious Tots Nursery

Sensory nooks for babies, mud kitchens and a preschool emphasis on phonics give Precious Tots Nursery its character. Based on Chesterfield Road in Leyton, it combines rooms for different developmental stages with play, outdoor exploration and communication with parents through a secure app.

At its November 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective. The same visit identified two areas needing attention: consistent guidance about younger children's active play, and staff support for teaching early literacy. Those points matter alongside the positive judgement.

The nursery accepts children from 6 to 60 months and has 28 places in total. That is the whole nursery's capacity, rather than the size of any individual room or group.

Rooms and Ages

Babies have sensory nooks, with key carers following routines familiar from home; toddlers practise singing, sorting and pouring as part of developing language and independence; preschool children work on early maths, phonics and projects with other children. These are recognisable stages in the day, giving parents concrete activities to consider against their child's interests and development.

Children explore story corners, sensory stations, climbing equipment and mud kitchens, with rooms and a secure garden providing space for play. The combination gives children opportunities for stories, hands-on exploration and physical play within the nursery's own spaces.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS shapes learning here through music, stories, play and outdoor discovery. In practical terms, this means babies exploring sensory materials, toddlers handling and sorting objects, and preschool children working with sounds, numbers and shared projects.

In November 2023, staff extended children's vocabulary by helping them use words describing size in context. Toddlers investigated textures, while children played instruments and accompanied songs with movements. Language was woven into interaction: adults named objects and talked about what children were doing, giving them words to connect with their experiences.

Practical tasks also carried learning. In November 2023, children used scissors to cut dough, practised recognising small amounts without counting and tackled subtraction problems. These examples show the substance beneath the curriculum: handling tools, noticing quantities and working out answers.

Outdoor mark-making and active play were part of the day in November 2023. Younger children's circle times used smaller groups so adults could give individual attention. For families, these examples offer a useful picture of how activities were organised at that visit, alongside today's room and garden arrangements.

Home routines matter in the baby provision. Key carers mirror them, helping families connect nursery care with their child's familiar pattern. Practitioners also observe development daily and share photographs and next steps through a secure app, so parents receive information about learning beyond the activities themselves.

In November 2023, babies exchanged looks and responses with their key persons, and children approached staff for comfort. Adults listened patiently when children talked about their news and preferences. These observations give a concrete picture of relationships at that time, rather than relying on a broad description of care.

Independence featured in everyday routines too. In November 2023, older children cleaned their bowls after snacks, practised washing their hands thoroughly and took responsibility for small jobs. Adults sat with children during meals as they learnt to use cutlery and observe table manners.

Breakfast, tea and lunch are freshly prepared at the nursery, and dietary needs are accommodated. Food preparation on site is a practical part of the offer for families whose child eats during the nursery day.

Sessions and Attendance

Precious Tots Nursery is at 38 Chesterfield Road, London, E10 6EW. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm on weekdays, with care operating across the year. Bank holidays and Christmas are closure periods, so families need to build those breaks into their childcare planning.

Getting There

Leyton station and local bus routes are nearby, and buggy storage is provided. This gives families travelling with a pushchair a practical facility to factor into their routine.

Funding and Paid Extras

Tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers are accepted. In November 2023, the nursery received early education funding for children aged two, three and four; that dated position is separate from the payment arrangements described above.

Joining involves a registration form and a deposit, followed by a settling-in week adapted to the child. For current prices, ask the nursery for a quotation.

• Early literacy and active play. In November 2023, staff needed further support with early literacy teaching and more consistent guidance about where younger children could play actively. During a visit, ask how practitioners now handle these two aspects of the day.
• Attendance and settling. The opening window runs from 8am to 6pm, and settling is tailored over a week. Ask which booking pattern would fit your working hours and how the settling schedule would accommodate your child's home routine.
• Dietary arrangements. Meals are cooked on site and dietary needs are accommodated. Families managing allergies should confirm current preparation and serving practice for their child's needs.

Precious Tots suits families seeking care across the year, activities matched to babies, toddlers and preschool children, and regular app communication about development. Sensory spaces, garden play and on-site cooking make the everyday offer tangible.

The November 2023 Good judgement provides a positive inspection position, balanced by specific work needed on early literacy and active-play expectations. For parents, the strongest decision points are the room activities, continuity with home routines and whether the attendance arrangement fits family life.