Oaklea Montessori Cic
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Colchester for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 2016, with 26 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
CO1 2DEWhat 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, 11 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed by happy staff that are genuinely pleased to see them. The manager and her team have a good knowledge of the children attending. They have a comprehensive understanding of what the children can do, and understand what they need to achieve next. The staff provide children with a broad range of learning opportunities within the ambitious curriculum. Activities cover all areas of learning and deliver the principles of Montessori teaching while also following the children's interests and seasonal themes. Staff ensure the environment and activities are interesting, and ignite children's curiosity. Children demonstrate they are keen and eager learners and quickly settle at a chosen activity. As a result, children make good progress from their starting points.
The management and team recognise that happy children who are interested in their environment, learn well. Therefore, there is a strong emphasis on supporting children's emotional development. Children understand the high expectations of the staff who are calm and reassuring role models. They speak to the children with respect and are gentle and attentive in their approach. They provide children with lots of praise and encouragement and recognise their achievements. Therefore, children's behaviour is very good. Children have formed close and trusting bonds with their key person and the whole team. Children are confident and demonstrate they feel safe and secure. They ask lots of questions, show curiosity and are keen, eager learners.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider how to provide children with a broader range of role-play opportunities to enable them to explore and develop their own play and ideas.
- 11 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 22 March 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Oaklea Montessori Cic
- 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.