Chestnut House Kindergarten
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Colchester for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2025. Open since 2005, with 76 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
CO4 5LEWhat 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.
- 23 June 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 28 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. Staff form supportive relationships with children and their families right from the start. This means that all children settle quickly and form secure and loving bonds with staff. Children become confident communicators. Staff tailor their interactions to enable children to develop high levels of language and communication skills. Babies learn to babble, say new words and make animal sounds. Children excitedly experience a range of activities to support their physical development. They enjoy active games, for instance with a parachute and 'Duck, Duck, Goose'. Children learn to climb, balance and ride bikes. Staff show that they enjoy the children's company. Children delight in staff's interactions with them. Staff laugh with the children and join in their superhero role play. Staff act out characters such as Wonder Woman.
Children learn to lead their own learning. Staff provide a wide range of resources.
This enables children to think critically, solve problems and estimate outcomes.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the curriculum training and support for regular agency staff so that children consistently receive the best teaching possible.
- 28 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 25 February 2020Good
- 5 January 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Chestnut House Kindergarten
- 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.