Tolleshunt Knights Cooperative Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Maldon 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 April 2024. Open since 1996, with 36 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
CM9 8EUWhat 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, 30 April 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are at the heart of this distinctive setting. They arrive happy and settle very quickly. Leaders and staff create an inspirational environment that stimulates children's curiosity and interest. Children have amazing opportunities to make informed decisions about what they would like to explore and access with support from nurturing staff. For example, children have a fantastic time in the garden looking for bugs and insects. Staff encourage them to use books to find out more about the creatures they found, to learn their names and where they live. Staff also remind children to show care and affection towards all living things. This helps build on children's understanding of the world and emotional development.
Staff and leaders are very warm and have high expectations of children. Children rise to the challenge and follow the setting's routines and boundaries exceptionally well. Children are positive and independent learners. For example, as soon as they arrive, children change into indoor shoes to support their independence.
Furthermore, at snack time, children help with cutting their own fruits and cleaning up their dishes. This makes children feel valued and deeply involved. Children have great manners and show high levels of respect towards staff and peers. Children form strong relationships with the staff, who in turn respond to their needs promptly and with kindness. Staff recognise and value children's achievements.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- adapt the quality of teaching to ensure children's learning is suitably challenged and new vocabulary is securely embedded, particularly for younger children.
- 30 April 2024Good
- 13 June 2018Good
- 3 February 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Tolleshunt Knights Cooperative Playgroup
- 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.