The Drive Pre-School

The Drive Methodist Church, Ilford

The Drive pre-school opened its doors to the local community in 1974 and has since gone from strength to strength, welcoming children and their families from all walks of life. We are a very inclusive pre-school, welcoming children from all backgrounds, beliefs and abilities, working hard to meet their needs. Children who attend the Drive pre-school, enjoy learning through play in a caring, friendly, educational and stimulating environment.

We achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating in our last inspection in November 2019, reflecting on our excellent practice.
click here to read a summary of their findings or Click here to read their full report.

The pre-school re-opened in September 2020, after the lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and now we are working in a different way. This is due to the government guidelines that were put in place to keep everyone safe from Coronavirus. The practitioners' and childrens' temperatures are taken on arrival and hands are sanitised and we ensure the children wash their hands regularly during the day.

We now work in bubbles and this means the same children are grouped together to carry out their activities and this minimises the risk of spread of infection. The play rooms are well ventilated and children go outside every day to play in the fresh air. All equipment, resources and furniture are sanitised every day. The children receive the same care and attention as they did before and their learning and development is closely monitored by the key persons, to ensure all their meets are met.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we would have been pleased to welcome anyone considering sending their children to our pre-school to see us in action. Unfortunately, infection control requirements now mean that we cannot do this. Instead, we are pleased to offer you an on-line guided tour of our facilities.

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7th October 2026