The Leighs Nursery Group
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Chelmsford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:50 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2000, with 26 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
CM3 1PPWhat 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, 1 October 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enter the nursery excitedly, find their name on the self-registration board and part form their parents and carers with ease. They wave their parents a jolly goodbye before skipping into the hall where they register their presence. Children confidently place their belongings in their individual large bucket and begin their busy day of learning. Children start each session at nursery with a large group activity. They proficiently answer their name to whichever member of staff calls the register, count how many children are present and talk about the nursery's rules and boundaries. Children develop a good understanding of how to keep themselves safe. They help staff to risk assess the outdoor play space and know that the laminated red triangle signs placed on doors and the stage mean that these are areas that they do not enter.
Children behave well. They are caring and considerate of each other. They understand how to share the toys and resources and to wait for their turn when playing games. Children's good and positive behaviour is rewarded by staff. They celebrate children's achievements by adding a new link to the 'Team day of the week' board. The aim each day is for children to work together and cooperate to earn enough links to reach the floor by the end of that day. Children are encouraged to express their feelings and share their thoughts. They speak to staff about how they are feeling and use the emotions visual prompts to help them to do this.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- further enhance the opportunities provided to children to help them to learn about communities outside of their own n build better opportunities for children to gain and further develop their independence skills.
- 1 October 2021Good
- 20 January 2016Outstanding
- 23 March 2011Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Leighs Nursery Group
- 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.