Great Wakering Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Southend-On-Sea for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 08:30 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2024. Open since 2016, with 40 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
15 hours (30 if eligible to Extended Entitlement) of Free Early Education Entitlement per week for all children aged 3 & 4. Eligible 2 year olds are able to access 15 hours of FEEE per week.
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
SS3 0EJWhat 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, 11 July 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children form close relationships with the friendly staff team who offer support when needed. Children are happy and play cooperatively with their peers. Staff plan and provide an ambitious curriculum for all children, including those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children gain a wealth of skills that prepare them well for their move on to school. They move around the preschool confidently making independent choices, such as when to have snack or whether to play inside or outdoors. Staff skilfully extend children's learning, engaging them in discussion. For example, they discuss the numbers and symbols they create as they draw on the paving stones outside with chalk.
Staff successfully foster children's curiosity, providing interesting learning experiences that motivate them to join in and investigate. Children enjoy being outside in the garden. They develop their confidence and friendships as they take imaginary boat rides together. Children enjoy the different sensory experiences offered, such as squashing their toes down into the cold soft sand. Children are learning to talk about their emotions, and supportive staff help them to manage their behaviour. They develop their strength as they climb and balance on the equipment. Staff teach children to follow good hygiene routines, such as handwashing, and explain why these are important. Children learn about the things that contribute to a healthy lifestyle, such as exercise, eating a balanced diet and looking after their teeth.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise when to give children more time to process their thoughts and ideas when responding to questions.
- 11 July 2024Good
- 20 September 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Great Wakering Pre-School
- 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.