Full-day nursery in Redbridge
Pencil Pots Day Nursery
321 The Drive, ILFORD, IG1 3PW · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Good
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since October 2012Reference EY454335Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 12 February 2025Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places34 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 22 July 2026Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
Funded hours: 2-year-olds
Fees: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Nurseries in Redbridge that publish fees charge £55–£75 a day for 2-year-olds (3 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's.
Hours and ages
- Monday to Friday
- 07:00–19:00
- Ages
- birth to 5 years
- Weeks open
- 50 a year
Getting there
321 The Drive, ILFORD, IG1 3PW · More nurseries in IG1
Stations
- Redbridge7 min walk · 0.3 miles
- Gants Hill15 min walk · 0.6 miles
Buses
9 bus stops within 400 m, including The Drive, The Drive Methodist Church and Castleview Gardens.
Parks and playgrounds
- Roding Valley Park10 min walk
- Wanstead Park11 min walk
- Playground7 min walk
- Playground8 min walk
- Playground9 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 Redbridge there are about 3.4 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 Pencil Pots Day Nursery
Pencil Pots Day Nursery is a full-day nursery at 321 The Drive, ILFORD, IG1 3PW, in Redbridge. It is registered for 34 children and takes children aged birth to 5 years. It opens 07:00–19:00, Mon–Fri, 50 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in February 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It offers funded places for 2-year-olds. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 7 reviews (November 2026).
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Food
- Allergy-aware kitchenSource: nursery website
- Healthy snacks providedSource: nursery website
Outdoors
- Local outings and tripsSource: nursery website
Care and routines
- Key person systemSource: nursery website
- Separate baby roomSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Open all yearSource: nursery website
- Early drop-offSource: nursery website
- Late pick-upSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- Inclusive settingSource: nursery website
Building and safety
- Near public transportSource: nursery website
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pencil Pots Day NurseryThis nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:00–19:00 | 0 mo–5 yrs | This nursery |
| The Drive PlaygroupSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | under 0.1 miles |
| Just Kids Daycare LimitedFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:00–19:00 | from 0 mo | under 0.1 miles |
| Kids Inc Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 3 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
| Cranbrook Castle MontessoriSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | not shared yet | 0.5 miles |
| Munchkinz Pre School NurserySessional pre-school | Not yet inspected | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | 1–5 yrs | 0.5 miles |
| Kids Inc Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 07:30–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.5 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Redbridge6
- All nurseries in Redbridge116
- All nurseries in IG127
- Nurseries near Redbridge station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Redbridge Primary School Primaryages 4–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected June 2024 0.4 miles
- Cranbrook Primary School Primaryages 5–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected May 2022 0.4 miles
- Beehive Preparatory School ages 2–11has a nursery class 0.4 miles
- Highlands Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Standards maintainedinspected November 2024 0.6 miles
- Gearies Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstandinginspected November 2024 0.8 miles
- Hatton Special School ages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected July 2025 0.9 miles
- Nightingale Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected October 2023 1.0 miles
- Parkhill Infants' School Primaryages 3–7has a nursery classOfsted: Goodinspected October 2023 1.0 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 Pencil Pots Day Nursery take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Pencil Pots Day Nursery offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
What are Pencil Pots Day Nursery's opening hours?
Pencil Pots Day Nursery opens 07:00–19:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Pencil Pots Day Nursery open all year?
Yes, Pencil Pots Day Nursery is open 50 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.
What ages does Pencil Pots Day Nursery take?
Pencil Pots Day Nursery takes children aged birth to 5 years.
What is Pencil Pots Day Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Pencil Pots Day Nursery Good at its inspection on 12 February 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Pencil Pots Day Nursery take?
Pencil Pots Day Nursery is registered with Ofsted for up to 34 children at any one time.
Does Pencil Pots Day Nursery have outdoor space?
Pencil Pots Day Nursery lists: Local outings and trips.
Does Pencil Pots Day Nursery support children with SEND?
Pencil Pots Day Nursery lists: Inclusive setting.
What is the nearest station to Pencil Pots Day Nursery?
Redbridge is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Pencil Pots Day Nursery?
You can call 07970 413338 and visit www.pencilpotsdaynursery.co.uk.
Tools for parents in Redbridge
- 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 RedbridgeFees by age in Redbridge
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.pencilpotsdaynursery.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
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- 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 EY454335 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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