Butterfly Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Chelmsford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2021. Open since 2015, with 30 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
CM1 4QSWhat 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 November 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle quickly and are good communicators. They talk to each other and staff, sharing what they have done over the weekend. Children listen and respond to staff's questions, using ever increasing complex words. They develop a love of books and enjoy stories which staff read to them. Children behave well. They patiently wait for their turn and share resources willingly. Children carefully watch the sand timer count down, commenting that it is almost their turn. Children develop good independence skills. They put on their own coats and manage their self-care needs confidently.
Children make good progress in relation to their individual starting points. Those with identified gaps in their learning are catching up, partly due to the high staffto-child ratio. This enables children to receive almost one-to-one attention and support. Children have endless opportunities to develop their early writing skills.
Mark-making materials, such as paper and crayons, are freely available which encourages children to write for a purpose during their play. Children know the daily routines well. They promptly line up to wash their hands ready for snack or lunchtime. Children enjoy daily opportunities to play outside in the fresh air, which helps to support their health and well-being.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to increase children's engagement in activities n target staff training to raise the quality of education to the highest level.
- 29 November 2021Good
- 13 November 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Butterfly Pre School
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.