The Beeches Pre-school
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Colchester for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023. Open since 1997, with 14 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
CO4 3AQWhat 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.
- 28 April 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 18 September 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their pre-school day. They are greeted at the main gate by managers and staff who welcome them into the setting with a smile. Staff enquire how the children and their parents are. Children confidently tell staff that they are good and parents share relevant information from home with the staff to ensure they are aware of any changes or issues. On entry, children know where to place their belongings on their dedicated peg and proficiently change into their indoor shoes. The morning begins with a circle time, where staff and children discuss the day of the week and what the weather is like. Children know the routine well and engage enthusiastically in the discussion.
Children are well behaved. They show kindness and respect for each other and learn how to manage their own feelings with support from staff. For example, they seek out the help of adults when another child takes the resources they are playing with. Staff help them to negotiate turn taking and sharing. Children are provided with good opportunities to guide their own play and learning as they confidently move between the indoor and outdoor environments. Staff encourage children to play an active role in decision-making. For example, they select two stories and ask the children to vote on which one they want to hear first.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop staff's ability to encourage all children to express their thoughts and ideas and extend their learning n strengthen the programme of professional development to support those with newly appointed managerial positions to embed their understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
- 18 September 2023Good
- 22 March 2023Inadequate
- 2 July 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Beeches 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.