Downhall Under Fives
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Rayleigh for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in July 2025. Open since 2009, with 28 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
SS6 9NNWhat 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, 1 July 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
This is an exceptional early years provision, where children thrive within a nurturing, stimulating and inclusive environment. The pre-school offers an outstanding start to children's learning journey and staff demonstrate exemplary practice in all areas of children's learning.
Children's behaviour and attitudes are superb. They are happy, confident and deeply engaged in high-quality learning. Staff encourage high levels of independence. Children competently select resources, use the bathroom unaided and participate in routines with ease. They arrive eagerly and separate from carers calmly. Children settle quickly, indicating they feel safe and secure with the kind and caring staff. Strong key-person relationships underpin children's sense of security and confidence.
Behaviour is consistently positive due to excellent role modelling from staff.
- 1 July 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 4 October 2019Good
- 24 September 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Downhall Under Fives
- 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.