Countryside Pre-School Nursery
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Dunmow for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2024. Open since 2004, with 38 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
CM6 1SWWhat 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, 21 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff have created a wonderfully warm and welcoming environment where children feel at home. There is a lovely sense of calm as children go about their play and learning. They make excellent use of the cosy home-living area, where they relax on child-sized chairs and chat to their friends.
Children behave very well. Staff set clear and consistent boundaries for children and ensure that all children are aware of their expectations. For instance, children remember that they use 'walking feet' inside to prevent accidents. Staff are warm and nurturing towards children. They help them to understand a range of feelings.
Children demonstrate their understanding of these as they manage conflict and deal with their own emotions. They are becoming kind and caring individuals as they develop empathy for others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to use a broader range of new and interesting words during activities to further extend children's vocabulary, strengthening their curiosity and knowledge.
- 21 May 2024Good
- 15 July 2018Good
- 10 March 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Countryside Pre-School 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.