Full-day nursery in Barking Riverside, Barking and Dagenham
Barking Riverside Explorers
Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Northgate Road, Barking, IG11 0AN · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted report card
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Behaviour and routinesExpected standard
- Children's welfare and well-beingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingStandards met
What does this mean?
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each nursery a report card. Each area is graded on a five-step scale: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard, exceptional. Safeguarding is either met or not met. There is no single headline grade, and we never make one up.
Official records
Fees
- Registration fee
- £95
Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 15 hours
Fees: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Nurseries in Barking and Dagenham that publish fees charge £72–£91 a day for under-2s (3 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 07:30–16:30
- Ages
- 14 months to 5 years
Getting there
Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Northgate Road, Barking, IG11 0AN · More nurseries in IG11
Stations
- Barking Riverside13 min walk · 0.5 miles
- Dagenham Dock24 min walk · 1.0 miles
Buses
9 bus stops within 400 m, including Northgate Road, Mulberry Circus and Brl Infrastructure Office.
Parks and playgrounds
- Oystercatcher Park1 min walk
- Northgate Park2 min walk
- The Circus5 min walk
- Castle Green11 min walk
- Little Bees Playpark playground2 min walk
- Playground6 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Barking and Dagenham there are about 4.2 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
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Write a reviewAbout Barking Riverside Explorers
Barking Riverside Explorers is a full-day nursery at Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Northgate Road, Barking, IG11 0AN, in Barking Riverside, Barking and Dagenham. It is registered for 26 children and takes children aged 14 months to 5 years. It opens 07:30–16:30, Mon–Fri. Its Ofsted report card (March 2026) grades inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard; safeguarding standards met. It offers funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 15 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 24 reviews (November 2026).
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
Its website names forest school, a play-based EYFS curriculum, a school readiness programme, and music, language, sports and STEM activities. Ofsted's 2026 report card inspection rated curriculum and teaching, and achievement, 'Expected standard'.
- Forest schoolSource: nursery website
- Play-based EYFS curriculumSource: nursery website
- School readiness programmeSource: nursery website
Food
Meals are not included in the fees. Its website says the kitchen is allergy-aware and breakfast is provided; parents provide packed lunch.
- Allergy-aware kitchenSource: nursery website
- Breakfast providedSource: nursery website
- Parents provide packed lunchSource: nursery website
Outdoors
Its website lists its own garden, daily outdoor play, a growing or allotment area, local outings and trips, and all-weather outdoor play.
- Own gardenSource: nursery website
- Daily outdoor playSource: nursery website
- Growing / allotment areaSource: nursery website
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
- All-weather outdoor playSource: nursery website
Settling in
Enrolment forms must be returned before the first settling-in session, which includes a 'Get to Know Me Better' questionnaire so staff can learn about the child's needs. Its website also names a key person system.
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Dedicated sleep roomSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Early drop-offSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
- Settling-in sessionsSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- Inclusive settingSource: nursery website
Safety
Ofsted 2026 found safeguarding standards met.
- Parent app with daily updatesSource: nursery website
- Online learning journalSource: nursery website
Extras and activities
- Music classesSource: nursery website
- Language classesSource: nursery website
- Sports coachingSource: nursery website
- STEM activitiesSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says applicants return the application form and choose a package, then pay the £95 registration fee and a refundable deposit and sign the contract within 7 days. The nursery has a waiting list and 4 weeks' notice to leave. It accepts government-funded hours for working parents of children from 9 months, funded hours for 2-year-olds and the universal 15 funded hours for 3-4 year olds.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barking Riverside ExplorersThis nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | 07:30–16:30 | 14 mo–5 yrs | This nursery |
| Barking Riverside Nursery SchoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | 0 mo–5 yrs | 0.3 miles |
| Barking Riverside Nursery SchoolFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| The Fountain Pre-schoolSessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| Harmony House at Castle GreenFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Childville Pre School @ St JohnsSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | 0.7 miles |
| Harmony House DagenhamFull-day nursery | Good | £70 | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–4 yrs | 0.8 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Barking Riverside6
- All nurseries in Barking and Dagenham79
- All nurseries in IG1129
- Nurseries near Becontree station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Riverside Bridge School ages 4–16Ofsted: Standards maintainedinspected March 2025 0.4 miles
- Riverside Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected October 2023 0.4 miles
- Goresbrook School All-throughages 2–18has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected October 2024 0.6 miles
- Hopewell School ages 5–19 0.7 miles
- The James Cambell Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected May 2024 0.8 miles
- George Carey Church of England Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected February 2023 0.8 miles
- Monteagle Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected February 2026 0.8 miles
- Thames View Infants Primaryages 3–7has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected June 2024 0.8 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
Does Barking Riverside Explorers offer 15 funded hours?
Yes. Barking Riverside Explorers offers the 15 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does Barking Riverside Explorers take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Barking Riverside Explorers offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Barking Riverside Explorers offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Barking Riverside Explorers offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Barking Riverside Explorers's opening hours?
Barking Riverside Explorers opens 07:30–16:30, Mon–Fri.
What ages does Barking Riverside Explorers take?
Barking Riverside Explorers takes children aged 14 months to 5 years.
What is Barking Riverside Explorers's Ofsted rating?
Barking Riverside Explorers was inspected on 10 March 2026 and given an Ofsted report card. Report cards grade each area separately rather than giving one headline grade: inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard. Safeguarding standards met.
How many children can Barking Riverside Explorers take?
Barking Riverside Explorers is registered with Ofsted for up to 26 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Barking Riverside Explorers?
Meals are not included in the fees at Barking Riverside Explorers.
Is there a registration fee or deposit at Barking Riverside Explorers?
Yes. Barking Riverside Explorers lists a registration fee of £95.
What approach does Barking Riverside Explorers follow?
Barking Riverside Explorers's website describes its approach as: Forest school, Play-based EYFS curriculum and School readiness programme.
Does Barking Riverside Explorers have outdoor space?
Barking Riverside Explorers lists: Own garden, Daily outdoor play, Growing / allotment area, Local outings and trips and All-weather outdoor play.
Does Barking Riverside Explorers support children with SEND?
Barking Riverside Explorers lists: Inclusive setting.
What is the nearest station to Barking Riverside Explorers?
Dagenham Dock is the nearest station we know of, 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Barking Riverside Explorers?
You can call 07918 151997 and visit www.br-explorers.co.uk.
Tools for parents in Barking and Dagenham
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in Barking and DagenhamFees by age in Barking and Dagenham
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.br-explorers.co.uk) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 11 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
Last checked 11 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2760667 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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