Now registering interest for our first places
Warm, play-based early years care following the EYFS, built on kindness and respect, and open to children of every background.
Serving families in Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge, with a nursery in Dagenham and a childminding setting coming to Gants Hill.
Small groups, familiar facesA dedicated key person for every child
About Ilm and Play
means knowledge
Children learn best when they feel safe, known and free to explore. That is the heart of Ilm and Play.
We bring together the Early Years Foundation Stage, the framework every registered setting in England follows, with a strong focus on kindness, good manners and respect for one another. Every family is welcome, whatever your background, culture, faith or first language.
Curious minds, nurtured through rich language, stories and hands-on discovery.
Child-led play, with time to explore at their own pace.
Kindness, confidence and good character, growing a little every day.
How children learn with us
Our days are built around the seven areas of learning in the EYFS. Each child has a key person who gets to know them well and plans next steps around their interests.
Outdoor learning
Fresh air and nature matter for little ones. Through outdoor play, local outings and simple growing activities, children learn patience, care for the world around them and a love of nature.
A day at Ilm and Play
Young children thrive on routine. Here is the shape of a typical day. Session times will be confirmed when places open.
A warm hello at the door and a calm start, with time to say goodbye.
Greetings, songs and a look at the day ahead.
Child-led play across the room, guided by our team and each child's interests.
Healthy snacks, good manners and lots of conversation.
Movement, energetic games and nature discovery.
Books, rhymes and storytelling that build early language.
Eating together, then quiet time for those who need it.
A goodbye circle and a chat with you about your child's day.
Our settings
Choose the setting that suits your family. Both share the same values, the same care and the same love of learning.
Dagenham, RM10
137 Broad Street, Dagenham RM10 9HP View on map
Gants Hill, Redbridge Location to be confirmed
A childminding setting in the Gants Hill area. We will share the exact address soon.
Funded childcare
Many families in England can get government-funded hours. Once we are registered, we plan to offer funded places for eligible children.
15hours a week
Every child in England can get 15 hours a week, over 38 weeks a year, from the term after their third birthday.
30hours a week
Eligible working parents can get up to 30 hours a week, over 38 weeks a year, from when their child is 9 months old until they start school.
15hours a week
If your family gets certain kinds of support, such as some benefits, your 2 year old may get 15 hours a week.
Eligibility rules apply, and working parents usually apply online and reconfirm every 3 months. Check what you could get on the government's Best Start in Life website. Let us know on the form if you plan to use funded hours.
For parents
You know your child best. We work alongside you from the very first visit.
Questions
We are getting our settings ready now. Families on our interest list will hear from us first as places open. Registering your interest is free and does not commit you to anything.
Our nursery is at 137 Broad Street, Dagenham RM10 9HP. Our childminding setting will be in the Gants Hill area of Redbridge, and we will confirm the exact location soon.
Every child is welcome, whatever their background, culture, faith or first language. Kindness, respect and good manners are at the heart of everything we do.
We learn about the languages, foods, festivals and traditions of the families in our community, so every child sees their own home life reflected and learns to respect others.
We will confirm the age range for each setting as places open. Tell us your child's date of birth on the form and we will let you know which setting suits them best.
Once we are registered, we plan to offer funded places for eligible families. See the funded hours section for what you might be entitled to.
Yes. We will work with you on allergies, medical diets and cultural or religious requirements, including halal and vegetarian diets.
We will email you to confirm we have your details, then get in touch as places become available to arrange a visit. You can ask us to remove your details at any time.
Register your interest
Tell us a little about your family and we will be in touch as places become available.
Prefer email? Write to us at admin@ilmandplay.co.uk
Our nursery: 137 Broad Street, Dagenham RM10 9HP
Fields marked optional can be left blank.
We have sent a confirmation to your email. If you do not see it, please check your spam folder. We will be in touch as places become available.
Work with us
We are looking for warm, qualified early years people who share our values and love helping little ones learn.
We will be recruiting ahead of opening. Register your interest and we will contact you when roles are advertised. All roles are subject to an enhanced DBS check and references.
No CV needed yet. We will ask for one when we recruit.
We have your details and will be in touch when we start recruiting.
