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Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery

Ofsted: Strong standard·
4.6(44 Google reviews) ·57 Empress Avenue, Ilford, IG1 3DE · Redbridge
Number of places
65 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2026
Local authority
Redbridge

About this day nursery

Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery, located in Ilford, IG1 3DE, is a childcare setting on non-domestic premises that provides an ambitious and responsive curriculum for children aged 1 to 4 years. The day nursery is registered with Ofsted from 12/09/2024 and was noted to have achieved a "Strong standard" in its inspection.

The provision places a strong emphasis on fostering a respectful, calm, and purposeful environment where children thrive, making excellent progress from their individual starting points. Leaders and staff are highly effective in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged, ensuring they make rapid progress.

The day nursery also excels in supporting children who speak English as an additional language, with staff using home languages where possible to aid understanding and communication, celebrating cultural heritage and promoting diversity. Children are actively taught sun safety, provided with cooling snacks, and babies enjoy water-play activities to ensure their comfort and wellbeing.

Our ethos

Our foremost goal is to create a safe, happy, caring, secure, and stimulating environment for every child entrusted to our care. We believe that this nurturing atmosphere lays the foundation for holistic development and a positive early learning experience.

What it's like

Children arrive at the nursery to a warm, genuine welcome from staff, separating confidently from their parents and carers. They benefit from a broad, thoughtfully planned curriculum that is ambitious for all, including those who may face barriers to learning. The outdoor play spaces are a hive of activity, featuring a purpose-built shopping street for imaginative play. Children are motivated and increasingly independent, taking pride in their achievements and cooperating well with peers.

Strong standardInclusive environmentAmbitious curriculumExcellent progressSun safetyResponsive staff

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-oldsTax-Free Childcare

Key facts

Age range

birth to 5 years

Session types

full day, trial sessions

Food

Nutritional daily meals provided

Registered with Ofsted

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Jun 2026

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
—
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery

Last inspected 24 June 2026

What it's like to attend

Children arrive at the nursery to a warm, genuine welcome from staff, separating confidently from their parents and carers. They benefit from a broad, thoughtfully planned curriculum that is ambitious for all, including those who may face barriers to learning. The outdoor play spaces are a hive of activity, featuring a purpose-built shopping street for imaginative play. Children are motivated and increasingly independent, taking pride in their achievements and cooperating well with peers.

Inspector highlights

  • Children enjoy a broad range of play and learning experiences, making excellent progress from their individual starting points.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make rapid progress.
  • Babies and toddlers delight in stories, songs, and rhymes, supporting their emerging communication and language skills.
  • Children's behaviour and attitudes are impressive; they thrive in a respectful, calm, and purposeful environment.
  • Children are given meaningful opportunities to take on responsibility and demonstrate growing awareness of their role within the nursery community.
  • Children's health and wellbeing are given high priority, with thorough risk assessments and effective measures to minimise potential risks.
  • Secure attachments are a key strength of the provision, with key persons building warm, responsive relationships.
  • Teaching is thoughtfully designed, drawing on ongoing observations and assessments to meet children's individual needs.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders and those responsible for governance should sustain their work to ensure continued improvement and high standards.
  • 2They should focus on creating a transformational impact on the outcomes and experiences of disadvantaged children, those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are known (or previously known) to children's social care, and those who may face other barriers to their learning and/or wellbeing.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), those who are disadvantaged and those known to children's social care make rapid progress. Staff work extremely closely with parents and carers and welcome external professionals to support children with SEND, making all reasonable adjustments to create a nurturing and inclusive environment.

Outdoor space

Outdoor play is carefully planned to take place early in the morning, before the sun becomes too strong, enabling children to continue to benefit from fresh air and physical activity in a safe way. The outdoor play spaces are a hive of activity, featuring a purpose-built shopping street for imaginative play.

EAL / language support

Leaders and staff work effectively to support children who speak English as an additional language. These children benefit from support from staff who, where possible, share and use their home languages to aid understanding and communication, which helps children feel secure and confident in expressing themselves.

Google Reviews of Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery

4.6
(44 Google reviews)
Hasin Hasin
2 months ago

My daughter started at Sunflower Nursery when she was a baby. To be honest, I was a bit worried initially since she was so small, but the baby room aunty's took great care of her and put my mind at ease. So thankful to them! 😊 Now she's turned 3, it's been a wonderful experience! She's happy and thriving, thanks to the lovely aunty's. She's become confident and independent, doing things on her own.She's still loving every minute of her time there, and I'm so glad she's got such a great place 😊.

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Ionela Bolovan
2 months ago

Sunflower Nursery is the best nursery I've heard of. They have professional staff who love children and take care of them with great love. The most trustworthy you can have. My children were there from 8 months to 5 years old. I highly recommend it.

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Sehmil Khan
2 months ago

A warm, caring nursery with wonderful staff who create a safe and happy environment for children to learn and grow. My daughter loved her time there and developed great confidence and social skills thanks to their support.

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Gianni Phipps
4 years ago

Hiii - so my daughter started at the nursery when she was just 3 months old and I was sooo nervous about leaving her, but ALHUMDULILAH the staff at the Empress setting consistently reassured me that she was fine! I loved getting the feedback as I gained alot of trust to these wonderful women and I felt like I didn't miss anything as they would take pics and always let me know if somethin was going on! 5 years later, my daughter has finished reception and mashaAllah she is one of the smartest in her class!! I'm always getting compliments of her being ahead of her peers and I truly believe its because of the teaching skills the staff at Sunflower have taught her. over the years she experienced many trips and has gained skills and friends for life, I am honestly so grateful for the time and effort this nursery has given us! every stressful time I was having, the women was always compassionate and helped me to manage home life better. these are things you don't expect to experience but being a first time mother, it really helped me ALOT. Thank you!

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Farida Sekheru 80000phm
2 months ago

The staff at the sunflower nursery are kind patient and take good care of my three children and. I would really recommend

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

24 June 2026

Strong standard

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

Frequently asked about Al Falah The Sunflower Nursery

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more