Le Ballon Rouge Montessori Day Nursery
Outstanding★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southend-On-Sea for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2022. Open since 1998, with 50 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SS2 4LSWhat 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, 11 May 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children make the best possible progress at the nursery. They develop a deep understanding of what staff expect from them from a young age. For instance, they stop immediately when the bell rings to signal tidy-up time. Children work collaboratively to tidy away. They help their friends carry boxes full of toys carefully back to where they belong.
Children with have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive exceptional support. They form strong bonds with all of the staff within their rooms, turning to them for help and comfort. Children demonstrate high levels of respect for one another. They include one another in their play instinctively, playing harmoniously together. Children immerse themselves in imaginary play. They draw in everyone around them, including staff members and visitors. For example, they pretend that the floor outside is lava, warning visitors and staff to move away, so that they do not get burned.
Children take an active role in celebrating their own achievements. They look back through their learning journals, revisiting and discussing their previous learning.
- 11 May 2022Outstanding
- 16 March 2016Outstanding
- 27 April 2010Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Le Ballon Rouge Montessori Day Nursery
- 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.