Little Jimmy's Pre-school
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Clacton on Sea 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2024. Open since 2010, with 36 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
CO15 1LFWhat 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, 22 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are at the centre of this unique pre-school. They arrive happy, separate well from their parents and settle very quickly. Leaders and staff create a stimulating and dynamic environment that sparks children's curiosity. Staff encourage children to make informed decisions about what they would like to explore next. For example, in the garden, children enjoy using magnifying glasses to look for bugs in the grass. Nurturing staff motivate children to look closely to observe the distinctive features of a ladybird while showing care and kindness towards living things. This helps build on children's investigative spirit, problemsolving and understanding of the world.
Staff and leaders are very warm and supportive and have high expectations of children. They follow the pre-school's routines and boundaries exceptionally well.
Children are positive and independent learners. For example, as soon as they arrive, children change into indoors shoes to support their independence.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to adapt the quality of their teaching to ensure children's learning is suitably challenged and extended.
- 22 May 2024Good
- 27 June 2018Good
- 8 November 2017Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Jimmy's Pre-school
- 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.