Holly Trees Nursery
Good★ 4.5 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Witham for babies from 3 months up to school age, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in August 2025. Open since 2020, with 142 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
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
CM8 2AZWhat 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.
- 28 May 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 31 December 2021 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 8 August 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are confident and enjoy spending time in this setting. When they need help or reassurance, they approach staff with ease, showing they feel secure and trust the adults who care for them. Staff provide opportunities for children to make choices. For example, during an activity, children change the rules of the game and choose which child will select the next item in a memory game. These experiences promote independence, support decision-making and give children ownership of their play and learning.
Leaders have a clear vision for the curriculum and work closely with staff to implement it across the setting. Staff plan activities to meet children's needs and build on what they already know and can do. This supports good progress from their starting points and helps children develop the skills and knowledge needed for the next stage of learning.
Some staff have a strong understanding of children and their individual needs.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- continue to strengthen the quality and consistency of staff interactions with children to ensure all children receive high-quality support that fully promotes their communication and language development and helps them reach their full potential n support staff to consistently manage behavioural expectations so that all children develop a clear understanding of rules and boundaries.
- 8 August 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 22 February 2023Good
- 2 March 2022Needs improvement
- 18 November 2021Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Holly Trees Nursery
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- 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.
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.