Pelican Place Nursery
Outstanding★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Witham for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in August 2024. Open since 2016, with 138 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
CM8 2DZWhat 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.
- 9 April 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 20 August 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enter a heart-warming environment where they feel respected, valued and loved by staff and each other. Children excitedly 'high five' staff members. They go to staff when they are upset and need reassurance and give staff big hugs.
Children are happy, confident and make friends easily. Staff provide an exceptionally enabling environment that is outstandingly well thought out. Children are curious about the world around them. They excitedly explore different flowers, smelling them and making their own potions. Children show high levels of patience and perseverance. They carefully balance balls and roll them down tubes.
Children are exceptionally well behaved. Staff set clear boundaries in a calm and gentle manner. Children know exactly what is expected of them and show high levels of respect for staff and each other. Staff show children lots of patience and listen to them closely. They skilfully manage disagreements, helping children to develop high levels of self-regulation and empathy. Even the youngest children understand how to share and be kind to their peers. Children's physical development is well catered for. Children develop strong physical skills for their ages. Even the youngest children learn to balance and take risks safely. Children build upper arm strength through completing activities, such as pressing sticks into clay, in preparation for early writing skills. Staff provide an extensive range of opportunities for children to develop their independence from a very early age.
- 20 August 2024Outstanding
- 19 October 2018Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Pelican Place 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.