Zebedee Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Wickford for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open sessions in term time, often mornings. £39.00 a day, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2024. Open since 2009, with 34 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, minimum 2 days a week.
| Age | Full day | Session | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | £39.00 | £18.003-hour, 3 hrs | £6.00 |
Extras
Charged on top of the session rate.
- £1.00 a session Voluntary contribution towards snacks
- £1.00 a session Voluntary charge towards snacks
What a funded hour still costs
Funded hours cover the childcare. These are charged alongside them.
- £3.00 per 15 minutes Charge for collecting at 3.30 where funded hours do notUNLESS children's funded hours apply
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
2-year entitlement for families in receipt of Government support (FEEE2 15 hours); Universal Entitlement for all 3 & 4-year-olds (FEEE3&4 15 hours); Eligible Working Parent Entitlement for 2-year-olds (FEEE2W 30 hours); Eligible Working Parent Entitlement for 3- & 4-year-olds (FEEE3&4W 15 hours).
Worth knowing. Funded hours may be taken between the hours 9.00-12.00/12.30-3.30 (single session of 3 hours) or 9.00-3.30 (full day of 6.5 hours). Where parents choose to collect at 3.30, there will be a charge of £3.00 for the 30 minutes UNLESS children’s funded hours apply. Voluntary snack charge of £1 per session applies to children who receive funding.
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
SS11 8QZWhat 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, 4 June 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy and separate well from their parents. They are at the heart of this inspirational setting. Leaders and staff create a stimulating environment that ignites children's curiosity and interests. Staff encourage children to make informed decisions about what they would like to explore next. For example, outside, children have an amazing time throwing and catching balls and balancing large hoops. They share resources well, engage effectively with their peers, while displaying high levels of energy and enthusiasm. This helps build on children's gross motor skills and social interactions.
Staff and leaders are very warm and supportive. They have very high expectations of children and they rise to the challenge exceptionally well. Children are positive and independent learners. For example, as soon as they arrive, children find their name tag and place their belongings in allocated places to support their independence. Children behave well and show high levels of respect towards their peers and staff. They self-serve their snack using appropriate utensils to build on their fine motor skills. Children form strong relationships with the staff who in turn respond to their needs promptly and with patience and kindness. Staff recognise and value all children's achievements. They offer praise and affirmation to build on their self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and adapt the planning and teaching strategies to ensure that all new vocabulary is securely embedded and children benefit from extensive learning opportunities.
- 4 June 2024Good
- 2 July 2018Good
- 22 April 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Zebedee Pre-School
- 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 £39.00 a day 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.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.