Flying Start Montessori
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Sawbridgeworth for children from birth to 5, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2025. Open since 2018, with 30 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 Hertfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hertfordshire 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
CM21 9DTWhat 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, 14 March 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and settled, quickly engaging in the activities on offer. Staff provide nurturing support to those who need help transitioning, ensuring all children feel secure and ready to learn. Staff offer a rich and stimulating curriculum that encourages free-flow play. Children's interests are considered, and staff show a good understanding of how children learn. They play alongside children, allowing them to explore at their own pace, while using opportunities to extend children's learning and development.
Children become engrossed in a variety of learning opportunities, including practical life skills, such as washing up, and accessing a range of equipment to support their physical development. Activities, such as balancing on beams, climbing slides and riding tricycles, help children to build on their coordination and strength. Children develop their fine motor skills through scooping and pouring cooked rainbow pasta and manipulating play dough, helping to strengthen muscles in their hands.
Staff are well deployed, ensuring that children are supervised at all times. They promote positive behaviour, encouraging children to care for their environment by tidying up resources and learning to respect their surroundings. Children behave well and form positive relationships with their peers, helping them to play harmoniously together.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review handwashing routines to make sure they are organised, minimising waiting times and ensuring that children are engaged in meaningful learning n ensure that staff include all children in focused activities to fully support children's learning and development.
- 14 March 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 April 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Flying Start Montessori
- 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.