Paddocks Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Basildon 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2024. Open since 2013, 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
SS15 5SPWhat 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, 9 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happily at this community-based pre-school. Caring and attentive staff welcome children warmly at the door. The effective key-person approach and friendly greetings from staff help children to part from their carers with ease.
Children play well together. Staff act as excellent role models to children, helping them to develop kindness and consideration to others. They encourage children to tidy away their toys and offer meaningful praise when children complete tasks.
Staff use their extensive knowledge of the children to engage them in a range of carefully chosen activities and experiences. Children show developing concentration and engagement as they absorb themselves in their play. Staff engage with the children as they play, narrating and introducing new and interesting words. For example, as children make 'dinner' in the home corner, staff use words such as
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to enhance their teaching skills that help children to develop their curiosity and thinking skills.
- 9 January 2024Good
- 23 March 2018Good
- 16 June 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Paddocks 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.