Wrens Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Dunmow 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2024. Open since 2016, 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 1BHWhat 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, 23 May 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The manager and her team welcome children and parents as they arrive. They are genuinely happy to see the children and welcome them in to the 'home-fromhome', child-friendly and inviting environment. Children settle quickly as they are keen to explore the activities on offer. The staff provide children with a broad and challenging curriculum that is based on children's interests, seasonal themes and also builds on what they already know. The staff use information provided by parents, and observations of the children to plan what they need to learn next.
A large playroom provides children with many opportunities to initiate their own play. Cosy areas encourage those who want to sit quietly to enjoy books. For example, children share stories together and excitedly look at the pictures chatting to their friends. An effective key-person system is in place and children have established trusting bonds with their familiar adult. The pre-school is small and cosy and staff know all the children well. They positively support children to learn how to manage their feelings. The staff are good role models. They are nurturing and speak with kindness to the children. This helps to support children's emotional well-being. As a result, children's behaviour is very good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- build on the current arrangements for staff supervision to monitor and evaluate staff's knowledge to raise the overall quality to a higher level.
- 23 May 2024Good
- 26 September 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Wrens 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.