Springfield Stars Preschool
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Chelmsford for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2024. Open since 2022, with 24 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
CM1 6XWWhat 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, 20 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager and her team are committed to provide all children with high-quality care and learning opportunities. They ensure the pre-school is inviting and use their knowledge of what children know and can do to plan a selection of wellorganised activities across the ambitious curriculum. The staff work closely with the parents to incorporate what they know about the child, children's interests and what they need to learn next, into activities that cover all areas of learning. The curriculum is well designed and is routinely evaluated to ensure the best outcomes for those attending. Children show they are enthusiastic and eager to learn and are keen to try new experiences. They show sustained levels of concentration and engagement.
Children are fully supported to develop the skills they need to become independent learners. Supporting children's well-being is the priority for all decisions made.
Children are encouraged to make choices for themselves, for example, when they want to have a snack. Therefore, play is not interrupted. Children peel and chop bananas and pour their own drinks. They sit comfortably and chat to their friends, comparing how many pieces of banana they have. Children establish strong bonds with the pre-school staff who are positive role models. They speak with genuine kindness and respect to the children. Children understand the high expectations of the staff and demonstrate a positive attitude toward learning and their behaviour is very good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to provide more opportunities for children to develop their imagination and creativity.
- 20 June 2024Good
Still missing for Springfield Stars Preschool
- 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.