Just Imagine Day Nursery - Maldon
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Maldon for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:30, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2019, with 32 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
CM9 6HYWhat 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, 16 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide a warm, welcoming and inviting space. Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the nursery. They settle quickly and form strong, caring bonds with staff. Staff create an extremely enabling environment that supports children to develop their independence, creativity and confidence. Children engage in positive social interactions with each other, sharing, taking turns and showing care and concern for each other's feelings. Staff immerse themselves in children's play. They bring learning to life for children. This means children show high levels of engagement, and listening and attention skills. Staff are positive role models. They treat the children with respect and kindness. Staff recognise how children might be feeling and help them to understand their emotions. They help children regulate and build on their self-esteem and sense of self. Children develop a deep sense of belonging and develop sound relationships with their peers. They confidently say goodbye to each other when leaving an activity.
Overall, staff promote children's communication and language well. They routinely add new words into their vocabulary, such as 'prescribe' and 'prevent'. Staff model how to use these words in context and children quickly learn the meanings and use them in their play. Children are confident communicators. They confidently describe the purpose of a sand timer and explain that 'sharing is caring'. Children's independence is fostered well, they help to tidy up, serve themselves dinner and put on their own coats. Staff bring learning to life. Children explore the cardboard boxes, twigs and straw as they follow and recall the story of the 'Three Little Pigs'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff in the toddler room to consistently extend children's learning, thinking and interests so that all children make the best possible progress.
- 16 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 26 July 2022Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Just Imagine Day Nursery - Maldon
- 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.