Fledglings Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Epping for children from birth to 8+, open 08:55 to 14:45, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 1999, with 40 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
CM16 6QJWhat 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, 15 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are welcomed by happy, caring staff who are genuinely pleased to see them. They leave their parents with ease and are keen to explore the activities provided. Staff take time getting to know the children and their families, therefore children settle quickly to an activity of their choice. The curriculum is designed around children's interests and builds on what they already know, with invitations to learn that follow flexible themes. For example, children enjoy a 'Jack and the
Beanstalk' story and explain they are growing beans and how they must care for them. They excitedly speak of Jack and the giant in the story and draw pictures to create their own story using characters from the book.
Children have developed close bonds with the attentive and enthusiastic staff, who are good role models. Children delight in the praise they receive for their achievements. Staff are very respectful of children's individuality and what is important to them. They are attentive and speak kindly to the children. Staff promote the skills children need to be independent learners and prepare them for the transition to school. They are encouraged and supported to use the bathroom independently, with staff on hand if help is required. Children are effective communicators and staff engage children in meaningful conversations and running commentaries during activities.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- include more focused activities within the curriculum to support children's understanding of emotions, to enable them to express how they feel n strengthen the planning for the outdoor area to provide children with the same rich experiences for learning as those inside.
- 15 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 December 2024Inadequate
- 6 February 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fledglings Pre School
- 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.