Nurseries and childcare in Colchester
We know of 71 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Colchester. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Centre Pre-School Preschool 329 Straight Rd, Colchester, CO3 9EF Call
- Chestnut House Kindergarten Preschool 45 Mill Rd, Colchester, CO4 5LE 5 Call
- Humpty Dumpty Pre-School Preschool Humpty Dumpty Pre School, Rawlings Cres, Colchester, CO4 9GF 5 Call
- Lexden Lodge Kindergarten Preschool 26 Lexden Rd, Colchester, CO3 3QD 5 Call
- Little Doves Day Nursery Day care preschool New Home, Lower Rd, Colchester, CO5 5 Call
- Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery and Preschool Home service 1 Villa Rd, Colchester, CO3 0RH 5 Call
- Nanna's Day Nursery Day care preschool Cowper Cres, Colchester, CO4 5XT 5 Call
- Safari Childcare Colchester Home service 79 Halstead Rd, Colchester, CO3 9AD 5 Call
- Tiddlywinks Preschool Preschool Coach Rd, Colchester, CO6 5 Call
- Abacus Little Learners Preschool St John’s C of E Primary School, Clay Ln Grv, Colchester, CO4 0HH Call
- ABC Day Nursery Day care preschool 22 Grove Rd, Colchester, CO5 0JP Call
- Bluebells West Bergholt Preschool Orpen Hall, 41 Lexden Road, Colchester, CO6 3BW Call
- Butterfly Barns Day Nursery Day care preschool 105 Old Heath Rd, Colchester, CO1 2EX Call
- Caterpillars Preschool Marks Tey Preschool St Andrews Church, Church Lane, Marks Tey, Colchester, CO6 Call
- Chesterwell Nursery School Preschool Unit 9, Chesterwell Plaza, Cordelia Dr, Colchester, CO4 6AZ Call
- Christchurch Preschool Preschool Ireton Rd, Colchester, CO3 3AT Call
- Elmstead Day Unit Day care preschool Colchester District General Hospital, Turner Rd, Colchester, CO4 Call
- Grove Preschool Preschool 50 New Farm Rd, Colchester, CO3 0PG Call
- Holly Corner Kindergarten Preschool Holly Corner, 104 Shrub End Rd, Colchester, CO3 4RX Call
- Just Imagine Day Nursery Day care preschool Hawthorn Ave, via, Acacia Ave, Colchester, CO4 3JN Call
- Kiddi Caru Day Nursery And Preschool In Colchester Elementary school Maria Court, Hythe Quay, Colchester, CO2 8JB 5 Call
- La Familia Day Nursery Child care and day care Hainault Close, Colchester, CO4 Call
- Langham Pre-school Preschool School Rd, Colchester, CO4 5PA Call
- Layer Pre-school Preschool Queen Elizebeth Hall/New Cut, Colchester, CO2 0EG 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 Colchester?
We know of 71 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Colchester. 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.