Crocus Early Years Centre
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Saffron Walden for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2022. Open since 2002, with 85 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
CB11 4UHWhat 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.
- 14 September 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 15 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop their physical skills while at nursery. For example, children have free access to a climbing frame in the baby room where they enjoy climbing up the stairs and going down the slide independently. Older children have free-flow opportunities to the well-resourced garden and participate in dance and yoga activities throughout the day. They learn how exercise affects their bodies and they feel their hearts beating fast after dancing, then slowing down during yoga and deep breathing exercises.
Children enjoy warm interactions with their key person. Children are greeted with cuddles when they wake up from their nap. Babies enjoy looking at photos of their families with their key person and show excitement when playing 'peek-a-boo'
together. Older children are seen taking turns and cuddling one another. Children are taught about emotions. Older children discuss how they are feeling, which prompts conversations on how to support one another. This supports children's social and emotional development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to develop their practice so that they focus consistently on supporting children's engagement in their activities and learning.
- 15 November 2022Good
- 5 January 2017Good
- 22 October 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Crocus Early Years Centre
- 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.