Hawkesbury Pre School
OutstandingBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Canvey Island for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 2012, 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
SS8 0JGWhat 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 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy attending this bustling pre-school, where they thrive in staff's expert care. They confidently communicate their needs, wants and ideas, knowing that they are valued and treated with the utmost respect. Children build strong bonds with staff and show that they feel safe and secure. They become engrossed in their chosen activity from the moment they arrive. Children show high levels of concentration as they ponder which colours to mix to create the colour purple. They test out their ideas and show their immense delight as they discover the successful combination of colours. Children show resilience and continue to achieve their aim when they are not immediately successful.
Children learn about their similarities and differences, celebrating what makes them unique. They learn about festivals and celebrations that are special to their friends, such as the Sri Lankan festival of Thai Pongal. Children show compassion and respect towards each other. They learn about children less fortunate than themselves, engaging in fundraising activities to support local charities. Children behave very well. They benefit from the consistent and calm approach from staff, who provide children with lots of praise and encouragement. Children gain the skills and positive attitudes they need to support them in the next stage in their education and for life.
- 11 May 2022Outstanding
- 22 November 2012Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hawkesbury 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.