Pillar Box Gardens Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2001, with 30 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 Tower Hamlets
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Tower Hamlets 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
E3 2QAWhat 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, 5 October 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children happily arrive at the nursery. They are warmly greeted by a familiar staff member. They settle quickly and confidently begin to explore the exciting activities on offer. Staff have high expectations for children's achievements. They are skilled at reintroducing familiar activities to them throughout the day. This helps children to remain motivated and extends their learning. For example, children remember to practise controlling their movements while creating patterns on the outside chalk board.
Children's emotional needs are very well supported by staff. Children enjoy a cuddle and some reassurance when they are upset. They happily sit together on the carpet and enjoy singing songs and listening to stories. Staff encourage children to behave well through gentle reminders of expected behaviour. Children understand how to manage their own feelings and impulses, developing friendships as they learn to respect one another. Staff value each child's uniqueness. They encourage them to be curious and experiment in their play. Children confidently choose activities they are interested in. They show good concentration and persevere when a task is challenging. Older children acquire knowledge over time.
For example, young children enthusiastically predict the words of a favourite story before the words are read aloud.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that staff's use of spoken English is consistent and accurate to support children's English language acquisition, specifically when supporting children who speak English as an additional language.
- 5 October 2021Good
- 18 November 2016Good
- 21 November 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Pillar Box Gardens 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.