Fairways Childcare Centre
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Stisted, Braintree for from 1 year 6 months up to school age, open 08:00 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2007, with 26 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
We accept both 15 hours funded and 30 hour extended entitlement.
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
CM77 8ANWhat 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, 25 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide children with a wide range of engaging activities that promote curiosity, independence and resilience. During construction play, staff ask meaningful questions and introduce descriptive vocabulary such as 'wiggly' and
'pointy'. Children confidently share their ideas, experiment with shapes and develop problem-solving and language skills. When towers fall, children rebuild without frustration, showing high levels of perseverance and determination. Staff embed early mathematics and literacy across daily routines. Children count animals, recognise their names on snack boxes and explore books that help them to understand their feelings. For example, staff read a book about emotions and children confidently relate feelings to their own experiences, building emotional awareness.
Staff use outdoor play to enrich learning. Children explore nature tables with conkers, leaves and cinnamon sticks, strengthening sensory experiences and fine motor skills. They investigate insects, learn new vocabulary, such as 'aphids', and observe seasonal changes in leaves. Staff provide physical play with trampolines and children build wooden racecourses, encouraging cooperation and risk management. Staff promote positive relationships and kindness through warm interactions. Children return lost toys, listen respectfully to peers and show empathy when others share feelings. The provision's routines empower children to act responsibly, respect personal space and voice concerns.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more effectively for children to practise their independence and self-help skills, particularly at mealtimes.
- 25 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 11 December 2019Good
- 15 March 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fairways Childcare Centre
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.