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Barking Riverside Explorers

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(11 parent reviews) ·Barking Riverside Ltd, The Wilds Ecology Centre, Barking, IG11 0AN · Barking and Dagenham
Number of places
26 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2026
Local authority
Barking and Dagenham

About this day nursery

Barking Riverside Explorers is a welcoming childcare setting in Barking, IG11 0AN, that caters to children aged 1 to 4 years. Registered with Ofsted since November 2023, the nursery operates all year round with opening hours from 07:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.

The setting has an ambitious curriculum, following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, with a strong emphasis on communication and language development. Children have regular opportunities for outdoor learning in a well-designed area, where they engage in sensory experiences with sand, water, and mud, fostering curiosity and physical development.

Leaders at Barking Riverside Explorers have implemented a specific programme to support children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), focusing particularly on emotional regulation. The comprehensive approach ensures that all children, including those with SEND, receive tailored support to make progress from their individual starting points.

Our ethos

Barking Riverside Explorers follows the EYFS curriculum, emphasising a child-led, multisensory, and play-based approach. They prioritise outdoor learning, school readiness, and building children's confidence, independence, and resilience. The nursery actively fosters family partnerships to support each child in their educational journey.

What it's like

Children arrive happily at the setting and are warmly greeted by staff, helping them to feel safe and welcomed. As they self-register, children are encouraged to 'check in' with their emotions using a visual colour-coded system. Staff who work with babies provide warm and caring interactions, helping them to feel reassured and build their confidence.

Strong standard of careEmotion regulation focusOutdoor sensory playCommunication and languageCooperative playPositive relationships

Pricing & funding

Fees are billed monthly in advance. While specific session rates are available upon enquiry, securing a place requires a non-refundable registration fee and a refundable deposit.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Fees are payable monthly in advance, by the first day of the month.
  • A non-refundable registration fee is required to secure a place.
  • A refundable deposit equal to half a month's fees is payable upon accepting an offer.
  • One month's written notice is required to offset the deposit against the final bill.

Key facts

Food

Meals are offered via a voluntary fee; otherwise, parents must provide packed food. There are four sittings for meals: breakfast (7:30-8:30), snack (10:30-11:00), lunch (12:00-12:30), and snack (3:10-3:30).

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday : 07:30 - 16:30

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Mar 2026

Headline: Expected 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

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Barking Riverside Explorers

Last inspected 10 March 2026

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happily at the setting and are warmly greeted by staff, helping them to feel safe and welcomed. As they self-register, children are encouraged to 'check in' with their emotions using a visual colour-coded system. Staff who work with babies provide warm and caring interactions, helping them to feel reassured and build their confidence.

Inspector highlights

  • Children make links in their learning and use vocabulary they have learned during planned activities.
  • Older children play cooperatively and form friendships, developing social skills and confidence.
  • Younger children learn to take turns and join in group activities, developing listening, attention, and confidence.
  • Staff build positive relationships with children and act as good role models, creating a calm and supportive environment.
  • Staff support children's health and wellbeing effectively, ensuring nutritious snacks and meals.
  • The curriculum supports children's mathematical development through planned experiences, teaching early concepts.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should support staff to improve their questioning skills, ensuring children are given sufficient time to respond and develop their speaking and thinking skills.
  • 2Leaders should ensure the key-person system is implemented consistently, so that staff know their children well and information is shared effectively with parents.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders have created and utilise a specific programme in their setting, in relation to supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This particularly focuses on the importance of children's ability to learn about and control their own emotions. Accurate assessment of children's development helps staff to identify gaps in children's learning swiftly. All children, including those with SEND, receive the support they need to make progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

Children have regular access to a well-designed outdoor area, where they benefit from a range of sensory experiences. They explore sand, water and mud in the outdoor kitchen, using tools to scoop, pour and mix. These opportunities support children's curiosity, imagination and physical development while they enjoy learning outdoors.

Parent Reviews of Barking Riverside Explorers

5.0
(11)
Meiby Johanna
6 months ago

My 2-year-old has been attending this preschool, and I honestly couldn’t be happier. Before joining, he spoke very little, and I was so worried about his speech. But since being here, he has started saying so many more words, trying new sounds, and expressing himself with confidence I’ve never seen before. It brings me so much joy to hear him communicate and see how proud he is of himself. The staff have been incredible patient, gentle, and truly loving. They treat him like he matters, and that means everything to me as a parent. He runs into nursery with a smile, and that alone tells me he feels safe, cared for, and understood. This preschool has played such a big part in his growth, not just with speech, but with his confidence, independence, and happiness. I am genuinely grateful for everything they’ve done for him. I would recommend them to any parent who wants a nurturing, supportive place for their child to thrive.

Read on Google
Rayhana Khanam
a year ago

Explorers is run with passion and immense enthusiasm by the owner Shay and her family/team. The nursery thoughtfully considers all aspects of preschool learning, wellbeing and they have a lot of fun too. My son settled in as a 2 year old and now, 4 months later he doesn’t want to leave at home time! I feel very content knowing he is taken care of at Explorers family. We can’t thank you all enough for the excellent quality of care and education.

Read on Google
Gloria Aboagye
a year ago

My child has attended this nursery from day one and I am thrilled I made the right choice from the start…every day is a reaffirmation of this actually! Every single teacher has a genuine love & dedication towards the kids and it shows in the curriculum and the play. So much thought is put into making every day’s activities feel new and stimulating, and every so often there’s a new progressive update within the preschool that makes me marvel at how central the happiness & development of the children is to the ethos of the nursery. The grounds are absolutely stunning and it’s such a great environment for being a child’s first encounter with nursery and schooling - definitely the place where wonderful core memories have been made and will continue to be! Well done & thank you to the whole Explorers team!

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Sonya kritzinger
a year ago

My Nephew attends this amazing school and wow- the growth and development i see in him each time far surpasses what I would expect of a 3 year old. His language and vocabulary absolutely amaze me each time I communicate with him and his motor skills have come such a long way. It makes for a lot more fun with family activities like Berry picking and when we go camping. He can really hold his own and has such an understanding of what we are doing. I have also noticed he has been so good with his listening skills and his self awareness. I've never had the pleasure of interacting with a child who can reflect on what he has done and make a decision based on this. Now im sure this is good parenting at work but at the same time I feel the school setting really reinforces good behaviour through reflection! The facility and staff are also to a whole different level. There are so many interactive and inclusive activities that are clearly cleverly designed to teach the kids new skills while letting them have fun, the staff are friendly, approachable and really clear in their communication. They're so pleasant to deal with in every aspect and I couldn't be happier know my nephew gets to attend here!

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Toritse Oparison
a year ago

This is absolutely the best pre-school!!!!. My son attended all while we lived in the area and he absolutely thrived! The learning experience and nurturing nature of the team is second to none! The owner and nursery team are very detailed, meticulous, super creative and the space is always immaculately clean. All my kids have been to their summer camps, Christmas camps and my baby in full time pre-school. Barking Riverside Explorers is honestly one of a kid. The kids have so much fun with a creative approach to learning, and the space is absolutely beautiful with a huge outdoor space. Amazing place. Sad to have moved away from.the area but will always take my kids back for the half term camps!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Barking Riverside Explorers. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

10 March 2026

Expected standard

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

View full Ofsted report

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