Sunnymede Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Billericay 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2022. Open since 2009, with 52 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
CM11 2HQWhat 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.
- 6 March 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 24 February 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children's behaviour is good. They interact warmly with staff and show that they feel valued, safe and secure. Children respond positively to staff and each other, encouraging their friends to join in activities, such as make-believe and dressing up. They spend time playing matching games, sharing ideas and developing knowledge as they sort plastic animals into different groups. Children base their game on farm animals and those they might see at the zoo.
Children enjoy learning as they engage in familiar activities with enthusiasm. For example, older children thoroughly enjoy circle time. They listen attentively to staff and have fun joining in with familiar songs. Children show that they are beginning to understand how conversations work. They happily take turns to speak and listen to each other. Younger children enjoy learning songs as they begin their pre-school journey. Throughout the setting, children are taught to use sign language, which helps to ensure that every child is heard and understood. Children enjoy opportunities to use larger play equipment, such as ride-on toys, or take part in gardening activities outside. This provides them with fresh air and plenty of exercise. Children have the opportunity to practise and learn how to develop greater control over how their body moves.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop staff's understanding of how to sharply focus their teaching during all experiences, so children are consistently challenged.
- 24 February 2022Good
- 27 February 2019Good
- 30 September 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sunnymede 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.