Pillar Box Montessori
Good★ 3.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:55, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2001, with 42 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 2ANWhat 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.
- 20 June 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 20 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children warmly as they arrive at nursery and remind them to 'sign in'
using their picture and to hang up their coats. This approach to supporting children to carry out tasks for themselves and develop their independence continues throughout the day. Children choose the toys they want to play with, and they respond to requests when it is time to come together. They learn to manage their personal care needs, such as handwashing. Staff's encouragement throughout the day helps children to develop a positive, 'can do' attitude to their learning. For example, children confidently retrieve resources from the shelf and become engrossed in their play and learning.
Staff use age-appropriate behaviour management methods consistently throughout the day. Children learn how to manage their emotions and learn the vocabulary they need to express their feelings. This helps children to understand the impact of their behaviour on others and to reflect on their actions. Children play in a safe and well-maintained environment, with resources and activities that challenge them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide additional support for less experienced staff to improve their knowledge of how to support children's conversational skills n consider how to strengthen mealtime routines to fully promote children's interactions with their peers.
- 20 July 2023Good
- 7 October 2022Needs improvement
- 4 May 2022Inadequate
- 27 February 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Pillar Box Montessori
- 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.