Balfour Nursery
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Ilford for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2022. Open since 2005, with 45 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Redbridge
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Redbridge from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
IG1 4HPWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 24 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are well settled and are happy to separate from their parents on arrival.
Staff form strong attachments with children. This results in children feeling safe and secure in this environment. They explore and enjoy the learning and play opportunities provided. Children form positive relationships with their teachers and peers. Children have the opportunity to make choices. For example, within the baby room children select singing props from a bag. This indicates to the adult the song they would like to sing. In the pre-school room, children vote on which book they would like to read. Staff giving children choices supports children's selfregulation.
Staff have good knowledge of children's learning and development. Staff therefore plan activities which capture all children's interest and imagination. For example, older children enjoyed the opportunity to use salt to melt ice. This allowed the Lego that was stuck to release from the ice. Children further use paint brushes to spread the salt around the ice block. Children behave really well. They are polite and considerate towards their friends. While in the garden, children offer each other a hug to keep each other warm in the cold. Staff act as good role models and remind children of expected behaviours. Children have a good understanding of the rules within the setting. Children develop skills in turn taking. The children within the toddler room and pre-school wait for their turn to wash hands before meal times.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan targeted support to help children catch up in their communication and language.
- 24 February 2022Good
- 28 November 2016Good
- 21 November 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Balfour Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.