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Nurseries in Chelmsford

There are 79 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Chelmsford, and 40 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Chelmsford

  • Ofsted report cards: 6 settings (22 Strong standard, 8 Expected standard, 6 Needs attention)
  • Ofsted grades before November 2025: 63 settings (14 Outstanding, 49 Good)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Nurseries and pre-schools

  • Aspen Tree Childcare - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 2PB, ages 0 to 6, 45 places
    Ofsted, 23 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Beaches Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 2SB, ages 2 to 4, 42 places
    Ofsted report card, 19 May 2026: Strong standard in 4 areas, Expected standard in 2 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Beaulieu Park Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 6AH, ages 0 to 4, 147 places
    Ofsted, 3 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bicknacre Preschool - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 4ES, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 1 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Bishop's Forest Pre School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 8HE, 16 places
  • Bright Horizons Chelmsford Day Nursery & Preschool - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 6AU, ages 1 to 4, 80 places
    Ofsted, 18 August 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Broomfield Hospital Day Nursery School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 7SS, ages 0 to 5, 51 places
    Ofsted, 22 April 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Broomfield Road Day Nursery School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 1RN, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
    Ofsted, 15 August 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Busy Bees At Springfield Chelmsford - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 6BN, ages 0 to 4, 102 places
    Ofsted, 27 November 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Busy Bees Day Nursery at Chelmsford - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 0GT, ages 0 to 4, 99 places
    Ofsted, 28 July 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 8NG, ages 0 to 4, 66 places
    Ofsted, 11 April 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 5PX, ages 0 to 4, 119 places
    Ofsted, 11 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Butterfly Pre School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 4QS, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 29 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Camelot Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 0JD, ages 0 to 11, 156 places
    Ofsted, 26 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Carealot Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 2BL, ages 1 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 29 September 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Channels Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 3FP, 84 places
  • Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 1NZ, ages 0 to 4, 32 places
    Ofsted, 8 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Club V Chelmsford - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 0RR
  • Cold Norton Pre-school - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 6JQ, ages 2 to 4
    Ofsted, 6 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Collingwood Under Fives Pre-school - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 5YJ, ages 2 to 5, 22 places
    Ofsted, 18 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Danbury Pre-School at St John's - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 4NS, ages 2 to 11, 26 places
    Ofsted, 24 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Deerlands Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 6LS, ages 0 to 4, 50 places
    Ofsted, 7 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Dovedale Nursery CIC - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 0JQ, 99 places
  • East Hanningfield Pre-school - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 8AE, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted report card, 6 February 2026: Needs attention in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Footprints Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 0HG, ages 0 to 4, 65 places
    Ofsted, 1 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hamptons sport & leisure - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 9FH
  • Holders Farm Kindergarten - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 6JS, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 5 October 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Hurst Court Day Nursery School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 6BP, ages 1 to 4, 60 places
    Ofsted, 5 September 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jayne's Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 7AG, ages 1 to 4, 28 places
    Ofsted, 29 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jesters Childcare Beaulieu - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 6DT, ages 0 to 4, 56 places
    Ofsted, 2 December 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jesters Nursery Childcare - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 4EX, ages 0 to 4, 36 places
    Ofsted, 20 May 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Jesters Nursery School Danbury - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 4NQ, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
    Ofsted report card, 27 November 2025: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Jubilee Friends Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 8ND, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted report card, 4 June 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • Kiddi Caru Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 1GP, ages 0 to 4, 100 places
    Ofsted, 9 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kids Inc Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 4DU, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
    Ofsted, 2 October 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Kip McGrath Chelmsford North - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 6AU
  • KMK Kinderzimmer Chelmsford - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 0EB, ages 0 to 4, 84 places
    Ofsted report card, 10 April 2026: Strong standard in 5 areas, Expected standard in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
  • Latchingdon Sessional Pre-School Ltd - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 6JS, ages 2 to 4, 22 places
    Ofsted, 7 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Lawn Lane Day Nursery School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 7PP, ages 0 to 4, 44 places
    Ofsted, 24 July 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Chums Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 9SR, ages 2 to 11, 45 places
    Ofsted, 9 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Darwins Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 8DW, ages 1 to 11, 85 places
    Ofsted, 27 July 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Faces Nursery School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 8HR, 62 places
  • Little Hedgehogs Day Nursery & Preschool - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 3DB, 24 places
  • Little Learners - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 2SB, ages 0 to 4, 19 places
    Ofsted, 6 February 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Nipperz - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 6AD, ages 2 to 10, 26 places
    Ofsted, 14 June 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Nipperz Chelmsford - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 2PA, ages 2 to 4, 51 places
    Ofsted, 18 June 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Smarties Nursery Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 8LD, ages 0 to 11, 100 places
    Ofsted, 19 May 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Little Spring Wonders Daycare Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 7HQ, ages 0 to 11, 72 places
    Ofsted, 29 November 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Munchkins Nursery and Pre-School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 7HX, ages 0 to 4, 80 places
    Ofsted report card, 19 March 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
  • New Hall Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 3HS, ages 0 to 4, 111 places
    Ofsted, 25 August 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Rainbow Pre-School - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 6RF, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
    Ofsted, 22 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Riverside Leisure Centre Creche - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 1FG
  • Roxwell Pre-school - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 4PA, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 4 July 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Scallywags Nursery Chelmsford Limited - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 6HL, ages 0 to 4, 48 places
    Ofsted, 25 March 2025: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Second Steps Day Nursery (Althorne) Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 6YH, ages 0 to 4, 78 places
    Ofsted, 8 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Second Steps Day Nursery (Hanningfield) Ltd - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 8BH, ages 1 to 3, 66 places
    Ofsted, 18 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Shining Stars - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 2HP, ages 0 to 9, 22 places
    Ofsted, 26 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Small Wonders Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 5NH, ages 0 to 10, 55 places
    Ofsted, 15 February 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Small Wonders Day Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 6JN, ages 0 to 11, 46 places
    Ofsted, 7 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • South Woodham Pre-school - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 5SE, ages 2 to 4, 43 places
    Ofsted, 19 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Springboard Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 6EB, ages 2 to 4, 25 places
    Ofsted, 19 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Springfield Bees Preschool - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 7PP, ages 2 to 4, 56 places
    Ofsted, 26 January 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Springfield Stars Preschool - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 6XW, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 20 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Step Start Nurseries Chelmsford - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 1QS, ages 1 to 4, 67 places
    Ofsted, 3 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • St Mary's Playschool - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 7JU, ages 2 to 4, 78 places
    Ofsted, 25 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Sunrise Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM1 7DN, ages 2 to 4, 28 places
    Ofsted, 1 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Ark Centre - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 5LB, ages 2 to 5, 6 places
    Ofsted, 8 December 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Fledgelings Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 8AU, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
    Ofsted, 10 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Hillside Barn - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 3LJ, 16 places
  • The Kids' Academy - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 9DE, ages 1 to 4, 66 places
    Ofsted, 1 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Leighs Nursery Group - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 1PP, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 1 October 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Little Acorns Preschool (Chelmsford) - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 9DT, ages 2 to 4, 42 places
    Ofsted, 18 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Little Bears Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM3 2HS, ages 2 to 4, 60 places
    Ofsted, 12 November 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • The Stables Nursery - Day nursery, Chelmsford CM2 8TS, ages 0 to 4, 120 places
    Ofsted, 3 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Tiddlywinks Day Nursery & Pre School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 6GX, ages 2 to 4, 42 places
    Ofsted, 28 January 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Up, Up and Away Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 1DF, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
    Ofsted, 18 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Waltham Preschool - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM3 3LN, ages 1 to 4, 24 places
    Ofsted, 24 April 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • Writtle Green Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM1 3LY, ages 2 to 4, 19 places
    Ofsted, 12 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
  • You & Me Pre-School - Pre-school, Chelmsford CM2 6ST, ages 2 to 4, 20 places
    Ofsted, 21 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

  • ACA The Activity Club - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 3NY, 30 places
  • Activitots Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 0AR, 39 places
  • Alfresco Outdoors - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 3RR
  • Allstar Community Academy - Lawford Mead - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 2JH, 30 places
  • Allstar Community Academy - The Activity Club Beaulieu Park 2 - Out-of-school club, chelmsford CM1 6DT, 40 places
  • Arati Hirani At Kip McGrath Chelmsford - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 0DD
  • Barracudas (Chelmsford) - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 1RW, 280 places
  • Bishop's Forest School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 8HE
  • Charley's Childcare - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 2PN, 10 places
  • Chelmsford YMCA @ Baddow Hall - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 7QZ, 32 places
  • Chelmsford YMCA Out Of School Clubs @ Galleywood - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 8RR, 26 places
  • Chelmsford YMCA @ Trinity Road - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 6HS, 26 places
  • Chelmsford YMCA @ Westlands Primary School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 2SB, 56 places
  • Childrens Holiday and Term Time Activity Programme - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 1FG
  • Children's Holiday And Term Time Activity Programme-City Camps - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 5JU
  • Childrens Term Time and Holiday Activity Programme - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 2EH
  • CMXSC @ Mildmay Primary School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 8AU, 25 places
  • Essex Kids Camp - Elmwood - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 5NB
  • Essex Kids Camp - Meadgate - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 7NS
  • First Class Education GW Hall - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 1DF
  • Jayne's Nursery Before/After School and Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 7AH, 32 places
  • Jesters Kids Club - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 4EX, 35 places
  • Junior Adventures Group @ East Hanningfield CM3 - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 8AE, 30 places
  • Junior Adventures Group @ St Peters CM2 - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 8UQ, 20 places
  • Kings Camps - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 3RR
  • Kings Camps - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 0AR
  • Kumon Chelmsford, Great Baddow - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 9TN
  • Kumon Chelmsford North - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 6GX
  • Kumon Chelmsford Riverside - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 1FG
  • LSC at Maylandsea Primary - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 6AD
  • Mega Camps Chelmsford - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 3ET, 120 places
  • Moulsham Infant School - Out of School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 9DG, 96 places
  • M.R.F.A. | Chelmsford Holiday Course - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 7ER
  • Perryfields Infants @ EPC - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 7PP, 60 places
  • School's Out Activities at King Edward VI Grammar School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 3SX, 60 places
  • Stagecoach Chelmsford - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM1 3SX
  • St Johns Danbury @ EPC - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 4NS, 36 places
  • Ultimate Activity Camps at New Hall School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 3HS, 104 places
  • YMCA Essex @ Great Waltham - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM3 1DF, 20 places
  • YMCA Essex @ Larkrise Primary School - Out-of-school club, Chelmsford CM2 9UB, 16 places

Nursery groups with settings here

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Ofsted grades before November 2025 (England)

Inspections before November 2025 gave one overall grade on a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate. Ofsted also graded the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and said whether safeguarding was effective.

Settings keep their last grade until Ofsted visits again, so many nurseries still show a grade from this older scale.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Council area

Schools in Chelmsford

Sources: Ofsted, registers as at 30 June 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.