The Windmill Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Dunmow for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2023. Open since 1999, with 20 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
CM6 2PYWhat 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.
- 31 October 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 31 October 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff encourage children to settle and feel safe and happy in their care. As children arrive, they appear cheerful and excited. Staff greet them by name and engage in discussions about what they have done at home and what they are excited to do that day. Parents are delighted at how quickly their children settle and how much they enjoy attending. Children are extremely interested in the very good-quality learning environments, inside and outside. They are resourceful as they extend their play. For instance, children use their imagination to build walkways using tyres, planks, and crates. They show pride in their creations as they point out the
Children's behaviour is extremely good. Staff have high expectations of their abilities. From their first day, children learn to take turns. Tools, such as sand timers, provide visual reference points to help them as they learn to share fairly.
Children show high levels of curiosity, concentration and enjoyment in their learning. Staff are good role models, who teach children how to communicate effectively. They introduce language to children in context. For example, as children learn about different colours, staff encourage them to find examples in the environment and help them to name each one. Staff monitor children's progress, responding to their emerging needs and guiding their development through positive interactions combined with secure routines for play and learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop inclusive practice further, to ensure that the backgrounds of all children are celebrated and reflected in play and learning.
- 31 October 2023Good
- 21 March 2018Good
- 5 December 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Windmill 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.