Smiley Centre For Children
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Leigh on Sea for children from birth to 8+, open 08:30 to 13:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Open since 2015, with 40 places.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SS9 2ARWhat 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.
- 21 May 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 25 April 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and eager to learn at this community-inspired pre-school.
Families socialise in the communal café as children eagerly await the start of their day. Children are warmly greeted by enthusiastic adults who tell children about the exciting day ahead. Children quickly become engaged in a range of interesting activities that have been planned to meet their talents and interests. For example, they show deep enjoyment as they make their own superhero masks. They chat together excitedly about their favourite superheroes and the special powers they hold.
Children benefit from access to fresh air and physical play outdoors. They show increasing skills as they balance securely in rope swings, laughing together as they swing back and forth. Children remember to take care when swinging to avoid bumping into their friends. They develop a secure awareness of risk as they climb trees and balance on logs. Children show immense kindness to their peers. They show patience, tolerance and respect for others during their play. A bug hunt provides curiosity and wonder as children dig in the mud for worms. They remember that they must handle them with care and be kind to living things.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop their planning preparation, enabling them to extend children's learning effectively n improve the identification of children's starting points in learning when they first join the setting.
- 25 April 2023Good
- 6 September 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Smiley Centre For Children
- 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.