Precious Smiles
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Ilford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2024. Open since 2016, with 20 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
IG3 9SEWhat 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, 8 October 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff have created a calm and friendly environment, a place where all children and families are welcome and supported. Children arrive with big smiles on their faces and are greeted warmly by staff. This helps support children to separate from their parents and carers with ease. Staff take the time to get to know children individually. All children are valued and have the confidence to progress in their learning journeys. Staff are excellent role models and children behave very well.
There are clear and consistent expectations about how children should behave, and staff explain why certain behaviours are not acceptable. Staff use timers to support children with sharing resources and during transitions. This has a positive impact on children's understanding of boundaries and their development of positive relationships with peers.
Children are eager and motivated to learn. They have lots of fun exploring the many different and engaging activities. Children enjoy pulling and rolling play dough, finding insects in the sand with magnifying glasses and making a list of their favourite foods to buy when shopping. Leaders ensure that the curriculum is ambitious and challenging for all children. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), children from disadvantaged backgrounds and children who may need extra support are supported well by leaders and staff. This ensures that all children make good and the best possible progress in their overall development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff's understanding of children's language development to raise achievements further.
- 8 October 2024Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 14 November 2018Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Precious Smiles
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.