Latchingdon Sessional Pre-School Ltd
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Chelmsford for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2024. Open since 2013, with 22 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
CM3 6JSWhat 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, 7 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, settled and content. They are keen and eager little learners, who thoroughly enjoy their pre-school day. Staff present a morning routine that children quickly become familiar with. They know that they start their day with their 'mile-a-day' walk around the garden. Staff enthusiastically walk with them, holding their hands where required and chatting joyfully with them. Children are confident speakers and engage well in conversations with staff and each other.
Staff help children understand the pre-school rules. Children know that when the small hand bell rings, they stop what they are doing, place their hands on their head and repeat a little rhyme. They patiently wait for the next instruction staff give them, such as 'tidy-up time' or to let them know that the snack table is about to be packed away.
Children eagerly help to tidy away the toys and resources to their favourite song.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the programme of professional development to support staff in further developing their knowledge and skills to a consistently high level.
- 7 February 2024Good
- 20 February 2018Good
- 4 March 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Latchingdon Sessional Pre-School Ltd
- 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.