Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Chelmsford for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2025. Open since 1993, 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 1NZWhat 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, 8 April 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children with genuine warmth and kindness. The nursery is fully inclusive and welcoming as the attentive staff ensure the environment and activities capture children's interest, and create a sense of belonging. Children demonstrate they are keen and enthusiastic to learn and try new things. They happily leave their parents with ease and settle quickly to an activity of their choice. Children are provided with a curriculum that is planned around their developing needs, interests and seasonal themes. Staff follow the children's lead and use ongoing planning to ensure they capture children's curiosity, while also implementing some principles of the Reggio Emilio and Montessori approach to learning.
Children are fully supported to develop the skills they need to become independent learners. For example, older children are positively encouraged to take care of their own personal needs by caring staff who are close by. Children's well-being is the priority for all decisions made. For example, a quiet sensory room with cosy cushions is readily available should a child want to relax, or have a calm moment to regulate how they are feeling, fully supported by staff. Children are encouraged to make choices for themselves, for example, when serve their own lunch. Children excitedly and carefully, peel and chop vegetables ready for the nursery cook to make nutritious dinners. Children establish strong bonds with the nursery staff who are positive role models. They speak with respect and kindness to the children.
Children understand the high expectations of the staff and demonstrate a positive attitude toward learning and overall, their behaviour is good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to improve their questioning skills that enhance opportunities for children to develop their thinking and expressive language skills n strengthen the curriculum to provide further opportunities for children to explore and learn about the natural world around them.
- 8 April 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 11 July 2024Needs improvement
- 27 September 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chelmsford YMCA 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.