Little Pickles Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Halstead for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2015, with 53 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
CO9 2LSWhat 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, 16 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children delight in being in this welcoming, safe and exceptionally well-resourced environment. They are busy and full of excitement at the freedom they have to develop their curiosity. Babies confidently walk and crawl around their environment, exploring the variety of resources on offer. They watch older children playing in the garden with interest to see what they are doing. Toddlers develop their understanding of the natural world, watching the visiting ducks. They discuss the birds that they can see. Older children are confident and very independent. For example, they help to set the lunch tables with plates and cutlery, and put out chairs for the whole group. Younger children help to tidy up their toys. Babies feed themselves at snack time and crawl in to their 'snooze pods' for nap time.
Children benefit from plenty of opportunities to develop their physical skills and are effectively supported by staff. For example, children enjoy riding new balance bikes, navigating obstacles in the garden. They get in and out of a real boat, pretending to steer it. Children have access to climbing equipment outdoors. They are learning how to keep themselves safe wearing bicycle helmets, as staff support them to take measured risks. Children relish the praise given by staff for their achievements.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- establish partnerships with other early years settings that children attend to provide the best possible support for their learning and development n help children to learn about the importance of managing risks by tidying up toys to keep themselves and others safe.
- 16 March 2023Good
- 29 August 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Pickles 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.