Apple Tree Day Care Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Braintree for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2024. Open since 2022, with 51 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Essex
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Essex from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
CM7 3PGWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 29 October 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure as they confidently move around the nursery. They happily arrive and leave their parents with ease as they are warmly welcomed by the thoughtful, attentive and nurturing staff, who are genuinely pleased to see them. Children settle quickly as they eagerly explore the activities provided. Staff provide children with a very homely, calm and happy environment in which to play. Children demonstrate a positive attitude to learning and are curious to try new things. For example, they show concentration and perseverance as they make good attempts to complete new puzzles. The ambitious curriculum is planned to support children's interests and builds on what they already know and can do. This ensures that they are offered sufficient challenge and accurately informs their next steps in learning. Seasonal themes and storybooks that interest children also contribute to the planning of the curriculum.
For example, children's fascinations of space and dinosaurs influence the activities provided.
Skills for independent learning are promoted as children are encouraged to take care of their personal needs. For example, in preparation to play outdoors, they make good attempts at putting coats and shoes on. Children receive praise and encouragement for their efforts and achievements. Staff speak kindly and respectfully to the children and are good role models. Children form friendships with others attending. They have established close, trusting bonds with their key person. They understand the routines and expectations in place, behave well and are polite.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more opportunities in the curriculum to enhance children's experiences and learning of the wider community in which they live n strengthen the use of effective questioning skills to give children more time to think and respond to questions and enable them to share their thoughts and ideas.
- 29 October 2024Good
Still missing for Apple Tree Day Care Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.