Pier Lodge Day Nursery
Good★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Grays 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in August 2023. Open since 2015, with 120 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 Thurrock
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Thurrock 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
RM17 6JPWhat 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, 15 August 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children and parents are warmly welcomed into the nursery. They are greeted by happy, attentive and nurturing staff who are genuinely pleased to see the children.
Children leave their parents with ease and show an eagerness to investigate activities provided. The curriculum is planned around the children's individual interests. Staff are skilful in their use of responsive planning. For example, children arrive excited and keen to talk about cars. Staff provide them with road maps and garages to continue their interest. Conversation takes place around transport and children paint the wheels of cars to make tracks on paper.
Children make good progress in their speech and language. They talk enthusiastically and recall what they have previously learned as they discuss the nursery 'garden club'. Children speak with confidence to visitors to the nursery about the flowers they grow. They learn about the environment and the importance of caring for bugs and insects. Planned trips to the local woodland and beach enhance their learning about the natural world. Children relish their time outdoors. They learn how to take safe risks, supported by staff, as they build obstacle courses. Children's behaviour is good. They work well in teams, listen intently and follow instructions. Staff are good role models and speak to the children with respect.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more opportunities within the curriculum to challenge children's thinking to consistently build on what they already know and can do n improve the organisation of routines so that children are fully engaged and do not become distracted, particularly at mealtimes and when preparing for outdoor play.
- 15 August 2023Good
- 31 October 2022Needs improvement
- 20 February 2018Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Pier Lodge Day 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.