Nurseries and childcare in Chelmsford
We know of 80 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Chelmsford. 2 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 2 of 2 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across Chelmsford
- Tanglewood Nursery SchoolGood or better Standards maintained (2025) · phone and directions
- Woodcroft Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2023) · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Seymour House Child care and day care Broomfield Hospital Grounds, Broomfield, CM1 7SS 5 Call
- Seymour House Day Nursery School Home service 140 Broomfield Rd, Chelmsford, CM1 1RN 5 Call
- Bright Horizons Chelmsford Day Nursery and Preschool Home service 51 Centenary Way, Chelmsford, CM1 6AU Call
- Dovedale Nursery Preschool College, Campus, 102 Moulsham St, Chelmsford, CM2 0JQ 5 Call
- Footprints Day Nursery Day care preschool Hall St, Chelmsford, CM2 0HG 5 Call
- Jesters Montessori Inspired Nursery School Preschool ❒ The Old School House, Main Rd, Chelmsford, CM3 4NQ 5 Call
- Rainbow Pre School Preschool Chelmer Village Hall, Chelmer Village Way, Chelmsford, CM2 5 Call
- Rainbow Pre-school Preschool Highcliffe Playcentre, Wickford Memorial Park, Rettendon View, Wickford, SS11 8JE Call
- Ramsden Pre-school Preschool Village Hall, 51 Dowsetts Ln, Billericay, CM11 1HX 5 Call
- Scallywags Nursery Chelmsford Day care preschool Burnell Gate, Chelmsford, CM1 5 Call
- Seymour House Nursery School Preschool 230 Springfield Rd, Chelmsford, CM2 6BP 5 Call
- Small Wonders Day Nurseries Day care preschool 57 Hullbridge Rd, Chelmsford, CM3 5NH 5 Call
- Springfield Stars Pre-School Preschool Forsythia Cl, Chelmsford, CM1 6XW Call
- Stock Preschool Preschool Dakyn Dr, Ingatestone, CM4 5 Call
- Tanglewood Nursery School Preschool Melbourne Ave, Chelmsford, CM1 2DX 5 Call
- The Kids Academy Preschool Moulsham School, Princes Rd, Chelmsford, CM2 5 Call
- You and Me Pre-School Preschool You and Me Pre-School, Church of Our Saviour, Ashton Pl, Chelmsford, CM2 5 Call
- Beaches Pre-School Preschool c/o Westlands C P School, Beeches Cl, Chelmsford, CM1 Call
- Blooming Moulsham Childcare Home service Vicarage Road, Chelmsford, CM2 Call
- Broomfield Hospital Nursery School Home service Seymour House, Pudding Wood Ln, Chelmsford, CM1 7SS Call
- Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Day care preschool 158 Main Road, Chelmsford, CM1 7AH Call
- Camp Beaumont Day care preschool Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5WP Call
- East Hanningfield Preschool School East Hanningfield Village Hall, Chelmsford, CM3 Call
- East Hanningfield Preschool Preschool Chelmsford, CM3 8AE Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Chelmsford?
We know of 80 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Chelmsford, including 2 state nursery schools. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.