Thundersley Congregational Church
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Benfleet for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2006, with 32 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
SS7 3ALWhat 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, 2 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children have a positive start to their day. They arrive happily and are greeted warmly by a staff member. Children soon settle and engage in activities that capture their interests. They make marks in a variety of situations. For example, they stretch and reach to 'paint' a wall with water. Children copy patterns in sand with their fingers and various tools. They are beginning to develop their upperbody strength and the small hand muscles they need to support early writing.
Children learn to keep themselves safe. They take part in a fire drill and calmly walk outside to the assembly point. Children help to create the pre-school's rules, which contributes to a sense of ownership. Staff talk to them about the importance of following these rules. Children demonstrate their understanding. They respond by suggesting kind words and explain they must not use 'running feet' indoors.
Children eagerly tidy toys away to keep the environment safe. They smile broadly when staff thank them and give 'high-fives', which helps boost their self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the organisation of routines to minimise interruptions to children's engagement in their learning n provide further opportunities for children to learn about the local community and the world around them.
- 2 November 2022Good
- 21 February 2017Good
- 4 November 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Thundersley Congregational Church
- 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.