Just Imagine...Day Nursery & Out Of School Club
Good★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Wickford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 March 2023. Open since 2009, with 82 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
SS11 7ASWhat 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.
- 20 October 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 10 March 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 14 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children receive a friendly and warm welcome from staff, with whom they have formed secure bonds. Children settle into self-chosen play in an environment that is inviting and well planned. They are happy and enjoy their time at the nursery.
Children are confident and demonstrate that they feel secure and safe. They are keen to speak to visitors and proudly show them their creations. Children behave well. They have formed good friendships and are kind to each other. For example, the pre-school children start a game of hide and seek, harmoniously deciding among themselves whose turn it is to count.
Children benefit from a well-thought-out and ambitious curriculum that builds on what they already know and can do. Staff have high expectations of the children and know them and their individual needs well. Children's interests, and their parents' suggestions, are considered when activities are planned. This helps children to make good progress in their learning and development, and prepares them for their next stage of learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to make the most of their interactions with younger children, to progress their speech and language skills further.
- 14 March 2023Good
- 28 May 2019Good
- 12 January 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Just Imagine...Day Nursery & Out Of School Club
- 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.