Headstart Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in South Ockendon for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 19:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2015, with 55 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 Thurrock
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Thurrock 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
RM15 5LYWhat 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 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this nurturing and caring nursery. Staff welcome children with enthusiasm and affection and children happily go off to explore. There is a sense of purpose and focus all around the nursery. Babies investigate outside, climbing on the soft-play equipment and rocking on the see-saw. Older children paint, concentrating as they copy the petals and stems in the vase of flowers.
Children have a true sense of belonging; they have their own pegs with their photograph and name. They have individual family books that are all about them and the familiar people in their lives. They discuss these people with their friends, teachers and visitors. Children demonstrate good behaviour. They show kindness and consideration for each other, and this results in high levels of well-being.
Children show concern for each other, are respectful and know how to share and take turns. For example, children show empathy and consideration to their friends when they are struggling to complete an activity, offering support and praise.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve staff's awareness of how unnecessary noise and distractions can have an impact on children's language development n develop the staff's understanding of how the youngest children learn.
- 9 November 2022Good
- 20 January 2017Good
- 21 April 2016Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Headstart Nursery
- 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.