HCA Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Hockley for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 September 2025. Open since 1992, with 38 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
SS5 6PAWhat 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, 18 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children feel happy and secure in this bright and welcoming pre-school. Staff greet children warmly as they arrive. They build trusting relationships that help children feel safe and valued. The key-person approach ensures that staff know each child well. They respond to children's individual needs and preferences. This consistent support helps children settle quickly and foster secure attachments. This gives children confidence to explore and try new activities.
Staff encourage children's independence throughout the day. Children pour their own drinks, serve snacks and wash their hands. They tidy away with little prompting, developing practical life skills and self-confidence. Children's behaviour is supported positively. Staff reinforce 'golden rules', such as 'good listening' and
'kind hands'. Staff use gentle reminders and modelling. As a result, children behave well and show respect for others. Staff support children to manage frustrations and to cooperate well with peers. Social skills flourish through collaborative play.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan the curriculum more effectively to help build on what children already know and can do n share next steps in learning with parents to enable them to continue children's learning and development at home.
- 18 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 2 December 2019Good
- 24 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for HCA 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.