Goldingham Drive Community Pre-school
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Braintree for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2022. Open since 2010, with 33 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
CM7 1AWWhat 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, 9 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enthusiastically skip into this community pre-school and are greeted by friendly and nurturing staff. The children giggle with laughter and excitement as upon entering they realise that a cheeky Christmas elf has been up to some tricks.
This joyful and positive atmosphere benefits the children as they explore the indoor and outdoor environments in a keen and purposeful manner. The learning environments are stimulating and extremely inviting. Children make their own play dough, weighing out flour and water, kneading it themselves before sharing it among their peers. Children enjoy mark making for purpose. A beautifully resourced 'loose parts' area supports children in developing their imaginations.
Children have the freedom to express their personalities and creative flair however they wish.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- build upon already good teaching to consistently challenge children's critical thinking skills to support even more progress in all areas of learning n monitor all children's understanding of what is expected of them and increase their engagement and independence in making choices and managing their personal needs.
- 9 December 2022Good
- 25 April 2017Good
- 30 January 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Goldingham Drive Community 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.