Cold Norton Pre-school
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Chelmsford for from 1 year up to school age, open 08:00 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2024. Open since 2021.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
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
CM3 6JQWhat 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, 6 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children and their families are greeted with genuine warmth and kindness by the enthusiastic staff, who are happy to see them. They arrive at pre-school and are warmly welcomed into a fun play environment. Children demonstrate that they are keen and eager to explore the planned activities provided and leave their parents with ease. The team of staff provide children with a variety of exciting activities that cover all seven areas of learning, both indoors and outdoors. The curriculum is planned around observations and what children need to learn next. Staff plan in the moment and follow children's interests, which influences the activities provided.
This ensures that children engage in learning and prompts their curiosity to explore. There is a strong emphasis on supporting children to develop the skills they need to be independent learners.
The effective key-person approach ensures that children form secure attachments and settle well. Staff are positive role models to the children, which supports them to develop kindness and empathy. The team has high expectations and praises children for making positive choices, such as when they play well together and help to tidy. Children understand the pre-school core values that underpin the curriculum, and their behaviour is good. Children demonstrate that they are confident communicators. They happily engage in conversation with visitors to the setting. They explain with pride about their colourful paintings and confidently ask for help as they make good attempts to store their work on drying racks.
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 challenge children's thinking to consistently build on what they already know and can do n improve the organisation of transition times, such as snack time and preparation for outdoor play, to ensure that all children are fully engaged at these times.
- 6 November 2024Good
- 18 January 2024Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Cold Norton Pre-school
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- 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.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.