Noah's Ark Pre school (Billericay)
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Billericay for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 2003, with 21 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
CM12 0LSWhat 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, 25 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive eager to start their day at pre-school. Staff welcome the children and their families. The manager and her team invest time in getting to know the children and settling-in sessions are tailored to meet their individual needs which may also include a 'home visit' if appropriate. Children's well-being underpins all decisions made and means that overall, children settle well and leave their parents with ease. The curriculum is based around the children's interests and what they need to learn next. Parents are encouraged to share what they know about their children. Staff have a secure knowledge of how children learn, and initial assessments and observations inform the planning of activities around the children's interests and seasonal themes.
Children demonstrate they feel secure. They speak with confidence to visitors to the setting. For example, they are curious about names, they understand print has meaning and make good attempts to copy letters from visitor badges, as they role play schools. Children show enthusiasm and sustained concentration as they make models. They persevere as they find the end of sticky tape. Children are supported as they use scissors to cut wool and are thrilled with their creations, and the praise they receive. Staff are attentive and show genuine kindness to children. They are good role models. Children have formed friendships and are kind to one another.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- improve the organisation of daily routines to ensure that they enable children to finish activities to their own satisfaction n provide children with more opportunities to take responsibility for themselves and solve problems when negotiating how to share resources.
- 25 June 2024Good
- 3 October 2018Good
- 20 April 2018Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Noah's Ark Pre school (Billericay)
- 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.