The Park preschool
OutstandingTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Halstead for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:30, 5 days a week. £25.00 a session for 2 Years - 3 Years, and they take the funded hours. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2012, with 30 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Term time only, 38 weeks a year.
| Age | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Years - 3 Years2y to 3y | £25.002 Years - 3 Years, 3 hrs | |
| 3 Years - 4 Years3y to 4y | £22.00unfunded |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £5.00 a session Late Stay - 3pm - 3.30pm
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
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
CO9 2BHWhat 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, 8 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All children thrive within this inspirational pre-school. They are welcomed by an exceptionally motivated and nurturing staff team. Children form close and trusting bonds with staff. Staff know the children extremely well and have a detailed knowledge of what children are interested in and what they need to achieve next.
Children self-register, identifying their names under a picture to pick their own pegs. Staff then further challenge the children to begin to read their names on the lunch box trolley, in preparation for their next stage of learning. Children show sustained concentration in the outdoor kitchen as they use a wealth of natural materials to make dinner and act out real-life scenarios. They learn how to solve problems when things do not go according to their plan. For example, children attempt to place baking trays with their creations in an oven and realise they do not fit in. They find the right-sized dish and transfer their mud cakes to a perfectly fitting bowl.
Children's behaviour is exemplary. Children understand the pre-school rules and follow them superbly. For instance, they stand still quietly and listen to the staff when they ring a bell to explain what is happening next. As a result, children understand transitions in the daily routine of the pre-school. Children show high levels of respect for each other and for staff. For example, they negotiate sharing a balance bicycle and wait for their friends to finish riding, and they thank each other while swapping over.
- 8 November 2022Outstanding
- 28 February 2017Good
- 4 February 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Park preschool
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £25.00 a session still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.