Little Hands Pre-School Nursery
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Witham for children from birth to 5, open 09:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 1997, with 30 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
CM8 1DJWhat 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.
- 26 July 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 28 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children receive a good quality of education. Key persons establish positive relationships with the whole family and get to know the children well. Staff plan appropriate next steps in learning that build on what children already know and can do. They use their interactions to support children to achieve. They are effective in engaging with other professionals when needed, making referrals to external services and signposting parents to support from other professionals. Strategies are in place to support children and families who speak English as an additional language. This helps to ensure that all children receive the support that they need so they can make the best possible progress in relation to their individual starting points.
Staff are positive in their interactions with children. They are polite and respectful to them and are good role models. Children play well with each other and have formed friendships. They are kind, considerate, and polite to one another. Staff have implemented positive behaviour strategies. They encourage children to share and take turns, offering support and suggestions when required. Children seek out the staff if they require support with their social interactions. Staff praise children consistently when they behave positively.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to strengthen their questioning techniques to promote children's thinking and communication skills.
- 28 February 2024Good
- 6 September 2023Inadequate
- 30 September 2021Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Hands Pre-School 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.