Spring Lodge Pre-school & Out of School Clubs
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Witham 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 June 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 1995, with 42 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 2HEWhat 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 June 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and eager to enter the setting. They say goodbye to parents and carers with ease. Children demonstrate high levels of confidence and have good relationships with staff. Children benefit from time outside. They enjoy exploring the natural properties of the sand. They enthusiastically add water to make the sand stickier. They fill pots, smooth the surface and turn them out to make sandcastles. Children use the climbing equipment with enthusiasm and skill.
They show that they have good coordination and can easily move across the structure to the slide.
Children are sensible. They listen to staff and follow instruction well. This helps to keep them safe. For example, children return indoors when the bell rings at the gate. This ensures that children do not go through the gate unnoticed when staff are speaking to parents. Staff have high expectations for all children. They encourage children to tackle challenges and to develop a can-do attitude. Children are prepared for school. They develop their independence, learning to follow good handwashing procedures and looking after their belongings.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to effectively promote specific learning intentions during planned activities
- review the learning environment to ensure that resources are complete and ready for children to use.
- 15 June 2021Good
- 11 November 2019Inadequate
- 4 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Spring Lodge Pre-school & Out of School Clubs
- 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.