Hereward
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Loughton 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2000, with 20 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
IG10 2HRWhat 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 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and confident at this friendly setting. They have close bonds with the staff. There is an established key-person system, which allows staff to form secure attachments with the children. Staff know what their children can do and build the curriculum around what they need to do next in order to develop.
Children enjoy accessing a range of resources that are based on their interests. For example, they enjoy playing with different vehicles. Children learn new words, such as 'aeroplane' and 'fire engine', and enjoy pretending to fly the plane through the air. They use tools for a purpose as they use scoops to collect sand. Early mathematical concepts are developed as children explore volume. Children enjoy pouring sand into different containers and learn about more and less.
Children behave well. Staff act as positive role models and help children to manage their behaviour. They support children to share equipment and understand how their behaviour impacts on others. As a result, children are kind and respectful to their peers and form good friendships. Staff provide lots of positive praise and children's achievements are celebrated. Children are rewarded with stickers, which they proudly show other staff. This helps to raise children's self-esteem and confidence.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and improve the arrangements for group activities to support all children, particularly those who are less confident, so they benefit from all learning experiences n maximise opportunities for children to develop their independence during daily tasks and self-care routines.
- 9 January 2023Good
- 6 June 2017Good
- 24 June 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hereward
- 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.