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Toddlers University in Ilkeston

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
·
4.4(9 parent reviews) ·Toddlers University, Park Road, Ilkeston, DE7 5DR · Derbyshire
Number of places
66 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Derbyshire

About this day nursery

Toddlers’ University Ilkeston provides high-quality early years childcare for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Located in a converted church on Park Road, Larklands, the nursery is rated 'Good' by Ofsted and boasts a team of fully qualified early years practitioners, with senior staff holding Early Years Professional Status and university degrees.

They offer flexible childcare options including full-time, part-time, and wraparound care, as well as before and after school clubs and holiday clubs. The nursery provides nutritious home-cooked meals daily, catering to all dietary requirements.

Children benefit from a secure garden play area with all-weather surfacing and a variety of equipment to support physical development. The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, focusing on personal, social and emotional development, communication and language, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.

Learning is delivered through small 'key worker' groups to ensure personalised attention and foster strong relationships.

Our ethos

Toddlers' University Ilkeston follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, emphasising personal, social and emotional development, communication, language, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. Learning is delivered through small 'key worker' groups to ensure personalised attention and foster strong relationships.

What it's like

Children are happy and excited as they enter the nursery, confidently leaving their parents and carers. They thoroughly enjoy being physically active in the garden, where staff play games to encourage movement and develop large muscles. Staff also provide opportunities for independence through daily routines, guiding children to pour milk and serve snacks, and giving older children responsibility for finding their hats for outdoor play.

Ofsted-rated GoodExperienced EducatorsFlexible ChildcareNutritious MealsOutdoor Play Area

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Session types

Full-time, Part-time, Wraparound care, Before and after school clubs, Holiday clubs

Food

Home-cooked meals prepared daily, catering to all dietary requirements

Opening hours

7.30am to 5.30pm

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Established

2004

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Toddlers University

Last inspected 2 July 2025

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children are happy and excited as they enter the nursery, confidently leaving their parents and carers. They thoroughly enjoy being physically active in the garden, where staff play games to encourage movement and develop large muscles. Staff also provide opportunities for independence through daily routines, guiding children to pour milk and serve snacks, and giving older children responsibility for finding their hats for outdoor play.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are happy and excited as they enter the nursery.
  • Children thoroughly enjoy being physically active in the garden.
  • Staff provide opportunities for children to develop their independence, such as through daily routines.
  • Staff offer activities to support children's literacy skills.
  • Staff are skilled at supporting children's mathematical development.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to apply consistent behaviour expectations, so children receive clear messages about acceptable behaviour
  • 2ensure that staff consistently use their knowledge of each child to plan and deliver activities that support and challenge them
  • 3support staff to implement the intent of planned activities to build on older children's learning.
Inspection #10394676 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders and managers have designed a curriculum that is based around children's individual needs, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. For example, staff work with specialist teachers and professionals from the health sector and use a range of strategies that have a positive impact.

Outdoor space

Children thoroughly enjoy being physically active in the garden. Staff play games with children to encourage them to move their bodies in different ways. For example, when staff call out 'crab', children quickly bend their knees and walk sideways. Staff support younger children as they attempt to use balancing beams, holding their hands if necessary to support them. Older children take turns with their friends and confidently hold their arms out to the side while walking quickly across the beam, showing good balance and coordination.

Parent Reviews of Toddlers University

4.4
(9)
Kristy Bates
4 years ago

The girls here are lovely and so good with my daughter. There is a lovely warm, welcoming feeling when you enter the building and the girls are so reassuring if you have any worries (like most parents do leaving their child with someone new!) My daughter loves it here and now shouts ‘friends’ as we pull up outside which has meant so much as she was born in lockdown so never got to meet other children! Vanessa (the manager) is fantastic and always flexible to our working patterns. She is so approachable and a pleasure to speak to - always making time out of her busy day to have a chat or answer one of my silly questions! Can’t praise the place and the team enough ❤️

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Zac Paull (Bol0cks)
a year ago

The kindness, support, genuine love and care provided by the team is exemplary. I would highly recommend this nursery. Elly, Jess, Toria, I cannot thank you enough. All our love and thanks from the Paull family.

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Pollyanna Underwood
5 years ago

Lovely ladies that work here. Great value and professional. My daughter loves all the staff and has learned a lot since starting when she was 8 months old. Always happy to accommodate. Would recommend.

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Adele Chilton
8 years ago

Both my children have been very happy here. The staff are gentle and kind yet set firm boundaries. I really do rate this place.

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Grace Morley
4 years ago

Both of my children have come to Toddlers between 2017 til sept 2022 when my son will start reception class, and the kids have had amazing keypersons who always strive to challenge them and help them learn in fun ways, my daughter who was highly independent loved the encouragement she got to express herself and my sons confident has been nurtured and comes home talking about his friends and the fun things he’s done in preschool.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Toddlers University. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: April 2018

  • July 2025Good
  • September 2019Good
  • April 2018Inadequate

Frequently asked about Toddlers University

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