Carealot Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Chelmsford for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2022. Open since 1999, with 32 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 2BLWhat 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 September 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and enjoy their time at this welcoming nursery. The key-person system is well established. This helps children to form strong relationships with familiar adults. All children are well cared for by staff, who know them well. This helps children feel safe and secure.
Children behave well. Staff talk to children about making 'good choices' and encourage them to be kind and share resources. Children make good friendships and play cooperatively with each other. Children show good levels of independence across the nursery. For example, young children use tissues to wipe their own noses. Older children use the toilet independently and know they must wash their hands after using the toilet and before eating.
Children show interest and are keen to join in with activities. Young children show good levels of curiosity as they explore textures, such as rice and breakfast cereal.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to identify and focus support for children's next steps precisely and share this information with parents consistently n extend opportunities for all children to build on their communication skills.
- 29 September 2022Good
- 8 November 2016Good
- 30 November 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Carealot Day 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.