Best nurseries in Essex
Young families in Essex have a wide range of nurseries to choose from and, unlike neighbouring London, it is rarely necessary to register for a place while the baby is still in utero. Before reading on to learn about nurseries in Essex, you may want to look at our article on Choosing a nursery which provides insight on the differences between types of nursery as well as advice on what to look for and questions to ask.
Nurseries in Chelmsford
Chain day nursery groups Seymour House, Kiddi Caru, Bright Horizons nurseries and Busy Bees have branches in Chelmsford and its hamlets but there are individual providers too, such as Montessoris Jesters and Buttercup, King Arthur-themed Camelot, and Scallywags. Places often available straight away. Any longer than a three-month wait and you could consider yourself unlucky.
The all-through independent New Hall School has a superb barn-style nursery for 1 to 3-year-olds in its beautiful grounds, while established city centre prep schools Widford Lodge, St Cedd’s and St Anne’s all have their own kindergartens - most children continue through to the schools. State primaries’ on-site pre-schools are popular, particularly Small Wonders at The Tyrrells School in Old Springfield, and larger Woodcroft Nursery sLarkrise Primary School, Great Baddow.
Nurseries in Colchester
Several chains, such as Kiddi Caru and Busy Bees, have branches in the city, but many of Colchester’s nurseries are either attached to prep schools - including Holmwood House School, Littlegarth School (just over the Suffolk border), St Mary’s (a girls’ school, although mixed in the nursery), Colchester Prep & High School and Oxford House School – or are standalone, such as Lexden Lodge Kindergarten, Monkey Puzzle, Safari, and Absolute Angels Montessori in the quaint village of Coggeshall. Waiting lists for these are minimal. Few of Colchester’s state primary schools have pre-schools and places at the highly regarded Lexden Primary School and St James’ Church of England Primary School are sought after – apply early.
Nurseries in Brentwood and west Essex
Unlike in nearby London, having to wait more than a month or two for a nursery place to become available is unusual. Bright Horizons runs Phoenix in Brentwood’s Merrymeads Country Park, and Poppetts in Hutton, while standalone alternatives include Forest Barn in Great Warley, New Beginnings in Loughton, Epping Montessori Nursery, and Chigwell and Hainault Synagogue nursery, where children also learn the basics of Judaism. Brentwood Preparatory School, Ursuline Preparatory School in Warley (co-ed Catholic), and Woodlands School (sites at Great Warley and Hutton Manor) are independents with thriving nurseries; further west are pre-schools at Buckhurst Hill’s Braeside School, and Chingford’s Normanhurst School and Coopersale Hall, near Epping Station, all three part of the Oak Tree school group.