St Joseph's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Upminster 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2024. Open since 2015, with 18 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 Havering
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Havering 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
RM14 2QBWhat 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, 18 April 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are excited to attend the pre-school and staff support children well to settle when they arrive. The provider, who is also the manager, has a clear vision for what she wants children to learn. She ensures that staff know how to implement this as part of their role. Children are curious and staff encourage them to explore their learning environment in a safe way.
Staff model the expected behaviour, and children emulate this well. They are respectful and encourage one another during their play and routines. For example, children offer their friends help with their zip when they put on their jackets and others try to get children who play alone to play together. Children develop their social skills through making friends, helping each other and taking turns.
The provider works closely with her staff team, and together they create a curriculum that is exciting. They ensure this builds on what children can already do and what they need to learn next. For example, when children first start, they have access to construction blocks to create and build things. However, once they have mastered handling these blocks, children have access to more challenging interlocking blocks to build constructions. Staff help children to develop a love for learning and to develop their confidence to try new things.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- revisit the outdoor learning experiences for children so that all children have the same rich opportunities n develop the lunch routine further to extend children's independent skills.
- 18 April 2024Good
- 24 April 2023Needs improvement
- 25 September 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Joseph's Pre-School
- 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.