The Old Schoolhouse Kindergarten
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Colchester for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 1996, with 46 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
CO3 8PBWhat 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, 17 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are keen, active and excited learners. They enter the nursery confidently and part from their parents and carers with ease. Staff in each room greet children in a welcoming manner. They spend time speaking to parents about any relevant information from home. Key persons use this information to ensure that every child's needs are met to a high standard. Children's care and learning is tailored to their individual needs, likes and dislikes. Children are confident and settled. They have good relationships with staff and each other, forming small friendship groups and assisting each other.
Children are enthusiastic about learning. They are provided with a broad curriculum that focuses on developing children's pride in their abilities. Staff plan activities that help children learn about respect, independence and emotional security. They are encouraged to be creative communicators from a young age. All staff are involved in developing and adapting the curriculum so that they are invested in the teaching approaches and practice is embedded effectively. Babies receive warm, gentle care form the adults caring for them. They are provided with effective opportunities to develop physical skills as they manoeuvre around the furniture and equipment specifically placed to encourage early standing and walking.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- guide staff to develop the use of effective questioning techniques to consistently enhance children's thinking skills that support their learning further n consider ways to extend children's experiences beyond the nursery to further enhance their learning.
- 17 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 August 2022Good
- 25 June 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Old Schoolhouse Kindergarten
- 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.