--- title: "(Closed) The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre, Ilkeston" description: "This nursery has closed. The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre, a nursery in Ilkeston — Ofsted-rated Good. See opening hours and contact details on Nursery Advice." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. Ofsted ratings, fees, opening hours, parent reviews and inspection history — all in one place.", "inLanguage": "en-GB", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Nursery Advice", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk", "description": "Search and compare UK nurseries. 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See opening hours and contact details on Nursery Advice.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#nursery" }, "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#breadcrumb" }, "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ "h1", "[data-speakable]" ] } }, { "@type": "ChildCare", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#nursery", "name": "The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre", "url": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB", "streetAddress": "81 Heanor Road", "addressLocality": "Ilkeston", "postalCode": "DE7 8DY" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#webpage" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": 52.980935, "longitude": -1.312526 }, "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Ilkeston" } ], "award": "Ofsted: Good", "aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": 3.4, "reviewCount": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "review": [ { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Vincent" }, "reviewBody": "Can't recommend the staff enough here. My little girl (16 months) loves going. She literally smiles and giggle when my car pulls up to drop her off. When you pick her up you can see she's happy and had a productive time, we can see she is learning different things than what she learns from us. Daily reports are good, staff are keen to accommodate our needs, facilities are clean. We are moving house shortly but I intend to drive a lot further than I could do to ensure she stays at this nursery.", "datePublished": "2017-10-04T07:01:44.074Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Debbie Newton" }, "reviewBody": "i loved it when my son went there(brayden)", "datePublished": "2017-07-23T14:47:56.261Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 1, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Agnes Fedyk-Regula" }, "reviewBody": "not good", "datePublished": "2019-04-26T02:22:31.138319042Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 5, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracey Moore" }, "datePublished": "2016-03-09T20:05:19.162Z", "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "Review", "reviewRating": { "@type": "Rating", "ratingValue": 1, "bestRating": 5, "worstRating": 1 }, "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Danielle Bryant" }, "datePublished": "2016-02-22T15:44:13.144Z", "inLanguage": "en" } ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Nurseries", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nurseries" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "East Midlands", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/search?region=East%20Midlands" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre", "item": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286" } ] }, { "@type": "FAQPage", "@id": "https://www.nurseryadvice.co.uk/nursery/the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286#faq", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What kind of childcare setting is The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It is a childcare on non-domestic premises setting. The site operates as full day care for children from birth to school age, with provision registered for early years care in Ilkeston." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which funded childcare hours does The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre accept?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The setting accepts universal 15 hours for 3- and 4-year-olds, along with 15 hours for disadvantaged two-year-olds. Those are the named funding entitlements listed for the nursery." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How did The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre do at its last Ofsted inspection?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The nursery was graded Good at its last Ofsted inspection on 31/10/2024." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What part of the country is The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre in?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The nursery is in Ilkeston, DE7 8DY, on Heanor Road." } } ] } ] } ] --- [![Nursery Advice](/__l5e/assets-v1/1c5557d3-f3fd-42f8-935a-3f2d2c3ac7e7/nursery-advice.webp "Nursery Advice")](/ "Nursery Advice") [Find Nurseries](/search)[Parent Hub](/parent-hub)[Compare](/compare)[About Us](/about-us)[For Nurseries](/for-nurseries) [Claim Your Nursery](/claim) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Nurseries](/nurseries) 3. [East Midlands](/search?region=East+Midlands) 4. The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre # The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre in Ilkeston Compare Contact Nursery Ofsted: Good (Oct 2024) · 3.4 (5 parent reviews) · 81 Heanor Road, Ilkeston, DE7 8DY · Derbyshire Number of places 36 places Age range — Last inspected Oct 2024 Local authority Derbyshire About - About - Pricing - Ofsted - Reviews - FAQ - [About](#about) - [Pricing](#pricing) - [Ofsted](#ofsted) - [Reviews](#reviews) - [FAQ](#faq) Email Nursery ## About this day nursery The Rocking Horse Nursery, located in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, is a well-established childcare setting that first registered in 1990. It operates as a childcare on non-domestic premises, offering full day care for children aged 0 to 4. With a capacity for 36 children and currently having 40 on roll, the nursery provides a happy and relaxed atmosphere where children confidently settle into their day and engage with familiar staff. The dedicated team of eight childcare staff, six of whom hold a Level 3 early years qualification, ensure a supportive environment. The nursery has shown significant improvements since its last inspection, with senior leaders effectively supporting staff and consistently planning stimulating activities based on children's interests. Parents trust the senior leaders and appreciate the thorough verbal and written handovers they receive daily. What it's like Children are keen to start their day at nursery. They rush through the door and confidently wave goodbye to their parents. The happy, relaxed atmosphere helps children to settle quickly. Children snuggle with the familiar staff for reassurance if they need to. They show that they feel safe and secure in the staff's care. Children show high levels of engagement. Staff ignite younger children's imaginations and curiosity. Good overall effectiveness Emphasis on communication Strong parent partnership Child-led activities Effective safeguarding Supportive leadership ## Pricing & funding Funding accepted 15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs) 15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds ## Key facts Opening hours Monday to Friday, 8am until 6pm Term time / All Year All\_year Established 1990 Ofsted Inspection ## Ofsted rating for The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre Last inspected 31 October 2024 Overall effectiveness Good What it's like to attend Children are keen to start their day at nursery. They rush through the door and confidently wave goodbye to their parents. The happy, relaxed atmosphere helps children to settle quickly. Children snuggle with the familiar staff for reassurance if they need to. They show that they feel safe and secure in the staff's care. Children show high levels of engagement. Staff ignite younger children's imaginations and curiosity. Inspector highlights - Children are eager to start their day, settling in quickly due to the happy and relaxed atmosphere. - Staff ignite imagination and curiosity, using natural resources to create engaging activities like a 'dinosaur swamp'. - Children demonstrate good behaviour, kindness, and consideration, with gentle reminders of nursery 'promises'. - The nursery provides good levels of support and reassurance to children, positively impacting their confidence and well-being. - Parents are happy with the communication received from the nursery and trust the senior leaders. - Staff communicate clearly and carefully, focusing on developing children's communication skills. - The new leadership team has a clear understanding of the nursery's strengths and areas for development. - Children are involved in decision-making, such as voting for activities in the 'nursery council', fostering a sense of belonging. - The arrangements for safeguarding children are effective, with an open and positive culture. - Staff receive ongoing professional development, including mandatory safeguarding and paediatric first aid training. Areas to develop - 1 Give children more time to think and respond to questions to encourage them to think of solutions and share their own thoughts and ideas. - 2 Continue to monitor and focus on strengthening staff practice to raise the quality of teaching practice to even higher levels. Source: Ofsted [View full Ofsted report](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50263478) ### Official Ofsted Report Independent inspection of The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre Inspection date Oct 2024 [Download full report (PDF)](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50263478)[View on Ofsted.gov.uk](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/206286) Visit or enquire ### Book a show-around Most settings reply within 48 hours. Schedule a VisitContact NurseryJoin Waitlist Get in touch ### Contact Phone not yet listed 81 Heanor Road, Ilkeston, DE7 8DY [© Mapbox](https://www.mapbox.com/about/maps) [© OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright/) [Improve this map](https://apps.mapbox.com/feedback/?owner=bettersearch&id=cmr0xkm3n001m01shcu7igkjr&access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiYmV0dGVyc2VhcmNoIiwiYSI6ImNtcjB4NzVvNDA0ZTkycHF5Z3g3aWNtZWcifQ.h8Ni35tijJSAoESKsGArhg#/-1.31253/52.98094/14) [](https://www.mapbox.com/) ## Explore day nurseries near Ilkeston - [Day nurseries in Ilkeston](/search?q=Ilkeston) - [Day nurseries in East Midlands](/search?q=East+Midlands) Is this your nursery? Claim this listing to add photos, pricing, and respond to enquiries. [Claim this listing](/claim?nursery=the-rocking-horse-childcare-centre-de7-8dy-206286) ## Parent Reviews of The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre 3.4 (5) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjWFTDi0qj0C2oT7iYU-QkbsfNnFwxzreOmcAe6poomtVqPHWoaS=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo-ba5) Chris Vincent 8 years ago Can't recommend the staff enough here. My little girl (16 months) loves going. She literally smiles and giggle when my car pulls up to drop her off. When you pick her up you can see she's happy and had a productive time, we can see she is learning different things than what she learns from us. Daily reports are good, staff are keen to accommodate our needs, facilities are clean. We are moving house shortly but I intend to drive a lot further than I could do to ensure she stays at this nursery. [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURBbzRHLVhREAE!2m1!1s0x4879ec7198eb30fb:0x7e186dc030d0b6e7) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjVgF5sd2XVqcnlT9tO73KEqjahBW4gT_zNv9IfTU59nzTkAjd4=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Debbie Newton 8 years ago i loved it when my son went there(brayden) [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNBZ2JURTZBRRAB!2m1!1s0x4879ec7198eb30fb:0x7e186dc030d0b6e7) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-/ALV-UjU3tcnIWcZXuF5JAX7b8t6SgF3Pu4VXCsezm0rYlgf2m6vc_XrRww=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Agnes Fedyk-Regula 7 years ago not good [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNZMzgtV2lnRRAB!2m1!1s0x4879ec7198eb30fb:0x7e186dc030d0b6e7) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocJqfHI5uEPFRzuEZHQDoi-qcj_4rHjWTIFhcF3qL16fDm2sMg=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Tracey Moore 10 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNnMXEtdHZRRRAB!2m1!1s0x4879ec7198eb30fb:0x7e186dc030d0b6e7) ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a/ACg8ocLm-EmjdKnZ_jfAoWtzuQ-MzKmW2jSSYeVsgs5-AlWye7qT=s128-c0x00000000-cc-rp-mo) Danielle Bryant 10 years ago [Read on Google](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m6!14m5!1m4!2m3!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSURBamZtVDdRRRAB!2m1!1s0x4879ec7198eb30fb:0x7e186dc030d0b6e7) Reviews from Google for The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre. [See all on Google Maps](https://maps.google.com/?cid=9086132920440108775&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) Inspection history Date: February 2014 - October 2024 Good - December 2023 Good - August 2018 Good - April 2018 Inadequate - August 2014 Good - February 2014 Inadequate ## Frequently asked about The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre ### What kind of childcare setting is The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre? ### Which funded childcare hours does The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre accept? ### How did The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre do at its last Ofsted inspection? ### What part of the country is The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre in? ## Nearby day nurseries in Ilkeston Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to The Rocking Horse Childcare Centre. - [ Ofsted: Good 0.2 mi ### Cherubs Ilkeston Ilkeston · DE7 8DH ](/nursery/cherubs-ilkeston-de7-8dh-2800053) - [ Ofsted rating unavailable 0.5 mi ### Little Plums Nursery Ilkeston Ilkeston · DE7 9HE ](/nursery/little-plums-nursery-ilkeston-de7-9he-2792730) - [ Awaiting first inspection 0.7 mi ### Twinkle Stars Daycare Ilkeston · DE7 5JA ](/nursery/twinkle-stars-daycare-ltd-de7-5ja-2797840) - [ Ofsted: Good 0.7 mi ### Cantelupe Pre-School Playgroup Ilkeston · DE7 5HY 4.3(26 reviews) ](/nursery/cantelupe-pre-school-playgroup-de7-5hy-206738) - [ Ofsted: Good 1.0 mi ### Toddlers University Ilkeston · DE7 5DR 4.4(9 reviews) ](/nursery/toddlers-university-de7-5dr-ey500179) - [ Ofsted: Good 1.2 mi ### Pines Private Day Nursery (The) Ilkeston · DE7 5FY ](/nursery/pines-private-day-nursery-the-de7-5fy-206296) [See all nurseries in Ilkeston →](/search?q=Ilkeston) ### Are you the owner of this nursery? 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