# 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).

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/barking-riverside-explorers-2760667  
Last checked 11 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Northgate Road, Barking, IG11 0AN
- Ages: 14 months to 5 years
- Opening hours: 07:30–16:30, Mon–Fri
- Registered places: 26
- Funded childcare: funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 15 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds
- Meals included: no
- Phone: 07918 151997
- Website: http://www.br-explorers.co.uk/
- Ofsted URN: 2760667

## Ofsted and official records

Report card inspection, 10 March 2026. Report cards grade each area separately; there is no single headline grade.

| Area | 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 |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |

Safeguarding standards met.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2760667

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since November 2023 (Reference 2760667). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2760667)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 10 March 2026). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2760667)
- Registered places: 26 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2760667)

## Fees

- Registration fee: £95

Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 15 hours.

Fees: not published yet.

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

Address: Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Northgate Road, Barking, IG11 0AN

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.525431,0.124763

- Station: Barking Riverside, 0.5 miles
- Station: Dagenham Dock, 1.0 miles
- 9 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Oystercatcher Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: Northgate Park, under 0.1 miles
- Park: The Circus, 0.2 miles
- Park: Castle Green, 0.4 miles
- Playground: Little Bees Playpark, under 0.1 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.2 miles

© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

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. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 24 reviews (as of 11 November 2026)

## About: a day here

### 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 school (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)
- Play-based EYFS curriculum (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- School readiness programme (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)

### 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 kitchen (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/Food-Hygiene-and-Packed-Lunch-Policy.pdf)
- Breakfast provided (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- Parents provide packed lunch (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)

### 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 garden (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- Daily outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- Growing / allotment area (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- All-weather outdoor play (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)

### 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 system (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/Admissions-and-Care-Policy-for-Children-Under-2-Years-Old.pdf)
- Dedicated sleep room (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/Admissions-and-Care-Policy-for-Children-Under-2-Years-Old.pdf)
- Flexible sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/fees)
- Early drop-off (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)
- Half-day sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/fees)
- Settling-in sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)

### SEND and inclusion

- Inclusive setting (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)

### Safety

Ofsted 2026 found safeguarding standards met.

- Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)
- Online learning journal (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)

### Extras and activities

- Music classes (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)
- Language classes (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)
- Sports coaching (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- STEM activities (source: nursery website, https://www.br-explorers.co.uk/s/General-Admissions-Policy.pdf)

### 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.

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside Bridge School |  | 4–16 | Standards maintained (March 2025) |  | 0.4 miles |
| Riverside Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (October 2023) |  | 0.4 miles |
| Goresbrook School | All-through | 2–18 | Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding (October 2024) | yes | 0.6 miles |
| Hopewell School |  | 5–19 |  |  | 0.7 miles |
| The James Cambell Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Good (May 2024) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| George Carey Church of England Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (February 2023) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| Monteagle Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (February 2026) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| Thames View Infants | Primary | 3–7 | Outstanding (June 2024) | yes | 0.8 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Barking Riverside Nursery School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/barking-riverside-nursery-school-2509408) | Good |  | 07:30–18:00 | 0.3 miles |
| [Barking Riverside Nursery School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/barking-riverside-nursery-school-2711659) | Good |  |  | 0.4 miles |
| [The Fountain Pre-school](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-fountain-pre-school-2838607) |  |  |  | 0.4 miles |
| [Harmony House at Castle Green](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/harmony-house-at-castle-green-2700017) | Good |  |  | 0.6 miles |
| [Childville Pre School @ St Johns](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/childville-pre-school-st-johns-ey546697) | Good |  | 09:00–15:00 | 0.7 miles |
| [Harmony House Dagenham](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/harmony-house-dagenham-2700014) | Good | £70 | 08:00–18:00 | 0.8 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### 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.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2760667)
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.br-explorers.co.uk), as of 11 November 2026 (http://www.br-explorers.co.uk/)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Barking+Riverside+Explorers+Preschool+by+SENspired&query_place_id=ChIJmRGwGXul2EcR4I1uBYl7tvc)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.