Little Lambs Ltd
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Loughton 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 November 2023. Open since 2008, with 35 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
IG10 1BBWhat 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, 10 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and excited to enter the setting on arrival. The staff team places a strong emphasis on building children's self-confidence. Staff are positive role models and children have developed respectful relationships with their peers.
Children run to seek out their friends and choose their favourite activities. Staff incorporate children's interests into the learning environment. They guide children to listen to instructions and engage in conversations with others.
Staff provide a well-balanced curriculum that meets the needs of all children. They encourage children to engage in high-quality learning experiences. Children show a strong desire to learn. Staff teach them about the natural world as they play in the forest garden. Children look after the nursery ducks, learning how to care for living things. They plant seeds, water them and watch them grow. Children skilfully make sandcastles, using their fine motor skills. They delight in finding treasures buried in the sand.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- allow children enough time to think and respond to questions asked, to support their thinking, communication and language skills.
- 10 November 2023Good
- 15 January 2018Good
- 4 November 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Lambs 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.