Best nurseries in Chelmsford
57 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hurst Court Day Nursery School Full day care · 60 places · CM2 6BP | Outstanding (2025) |
| 2 | Broomfield Road Day Nursery School Full day care · 60 places · CM1 1RN | Outstanding (2025) |
| 3 | Lawn Lane Day Nursery School Full day care · 44 places · CM1 7PP | Outstanding (2025) |
| 4 | Scallywags Nursery Chelmsford Limited Full day care · 48 places · CM1 6HL | Outstanding (2025) |
| 5 | Busy Bees At Springfield Chelmsford Full day care · 102 places · CM2 6BN | Outstanding (2024) |
| 6 | Springfield Bees Preschool Sessional day care · 56 places · CM1 7PP | Outstanding (2024) |
| 7 | The Ark Centre Sessional day care · 6 places · CM2 5LB | Outstanding (2023) |
| 8 | Little Spring Wonders Daycare Nursery Full day care · 72 places · CM2 7HQ | Outstanding (2022) |
| 9 | Bright Horizons Chelmsford Day Nursery & Preschool Full day care · 80 places · CM1 6AU | Outstanding (2022) |
| 10 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Chelmsford Full day care · 99 places · CM2 0GT | Outstanding (2022) |
| 11 | Hillside Playcare Sessional day care · 23 places · CM3 3NT | Outstanding (2022) |
| 12 | You & Me Pre-School Sessional day care · 20 places · CM2 6ST | Outstanding (2022) |
| 13 | Broomfield Hospital Day Nursery School Full day care · 51 places · CM1 7SS | Outstanding (2022) |
| 14 | The Hillside Barn Sessional day care · 16 places · CM3 3LJ | Outstanding (2021) |
| 15 | Springboard Pre-School Sessional day care · 25 places · CM2 6EB | Good (2025) |
| 16 | Step Start Nurseries Chelmsford Full day care · 67 places · CM1 1QS | Good (2025) |
| 17 | Jayne's Nursery Ltd Full day care · 28 places · CM1 7AG | Good (2025) |
| 18 | Aspen Tree Childcare Full day care · 45 places · CM1 2PB | Good (2025) |
| 19 | Chelmsford YMCA Day Nursery Full day care · 32 places · CM1 1NZ | Good (2025) |
| 20 | Up, Up and Away Pre-School Sessional day care · 26 places · CM3 1DF | Good (2025) |
| 21 | Tiddlywinks Day Nursery & Pre School Sessional day care · 42 places · CM1 6GX | Good (2025) |
| 22 | Springfield Stars Preschool Sessional day care · 24 places · CM1 6XW | Good (2024) |
| 23 | Little Chums Nursery Full day care · 45 places · CM2 9SR | Good (2024) |
| 24 | Sunrise Nursery Full day care · 28 places · CM1 7DN | Good (2024) |
| 25 | Waltham Preschool Sessional day care · 24 places · CM3 3LN | Good (2024) |
| 26 | The Little Acorns Preschool (Chelmsford) Sessional day care · 42 places · CM2 9DT | Good (2024) |
| 27 | Small Wonders Day Nursery Full day care · 46 places · CM1 6JN | Good (2024) |
| 28 | Holders Farm Kindergarten Sessional day care · 26 places · CM1 6JS | Good (2023) |
| 29 | Kids Inc Day Nursery Full day care · 52 places · CM1 4DU | Good (2023) |
| 30 | Meadgate Nursery Full day care · 36 places · CM2 7NS | Good (2023) |
| 31 | Buttercup Montessori Kindergarten Ltd Full day care · 119 places · CM2 5PX | Good (2023) |
| 32 | Little Faces Childcare Ltd Full day care · 56 places · CM2 8HR | Good (2023) |
| 33 | Kiddi Caru Nursery Full day care · 100 places · CM1 1GP | Good (2023) |
| 34 | Beaulieu Park Day Nursery Full day care · 147 places · CM1 6AH | Good (2023) |
| 35 | Camelot Day Nursery Full day care · 156 places · CM2 0JD | Good (2023) |
| 36 | St Mary's Playschool Full day care · 78 places · CM2 7JU | Good (2023) |
| 37 | Footprints Day Nursery Full day care · 65 places · CM2 0HG | Good (2022) |
| 38 | The Kids' Academy Full day care · 66 places · CM2 9DE | Good (2022) |
| 39 | Carealot Day Nursery Full day care · 32 places · CM1 2BL | Good (2022) |
| 40 | New Hall Nursery Full day care · 111 places · CM3 3HS | Good (2022) |
| 41 | Roxwell Pre-school Full day care · 24 places · CM1 4PA | Good (2022) |
| 42 | Jesters Childcare Beaulieu Full day care · 56 places · CM1 6DT | Good (2021) |
| 43 | Rainbow Pre-School Full day care · 40 places · CM2 6RF | Good (2021) |
| 44 | The Fledgelings Pre-School Sessional day care · 30 places · CM2 8AU | Good (2021) |
| 45 | The Leighs Nursery Group Sessional day care · 26 places · CM3 1PP | Good (2021) |
| 46 | Little Nipperz Chelmsford Sessional day care · 51 places · CM1 2PA | Good (2021) |
| 47 | Channels Day Nursery Full day care · 84 places · CM3 3FP | Not yet inspected |
| 48 | Club V Chelmsford Sessional day care · CM2 0RR | Not yet inspected |
| 49 | Dovedale Nursery CIC Full day care · 99 places · CM2 0JQ | Not yet inspected |
| 50 | Hamptons sport & leisure Sessional day care · CM2 9FH | Not yet inspected |
| 51 | KMK Kinderzimmer Chelmsford Full day care · 84 places · CM2 0EB | Not yet inspected |
| 52 | Kip McGrath Chelmsford North Sessional day care · CM1 6AU | Not yet inspected |
| 53 | Little Faces Nursery School Full day care · 62 places · CM2 8HR | Not yet inspected |
| 54 | Little Hedgehogs Day Nursery & Preschool Full day care · 24 places · CM3 3DB | Not yet inspected |
| 55 | Little Hedgehogs Preschool Sessional day care · 16 places · CM3 3EB | Not yet inspected |
| 56 | Munchkins Nursery and Pre-School Full day care · 80 places · CM2 7HX | Not yet inspected |
| 57 | Riverside Leisure Centre Creche Sessional day care · CM1 1FG | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Chelmsford?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in East of England, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Chelmsford?
Of 57 nurseries and pre-schools in Chelmsford, 14 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Hurst Court Day Nursery School, Broomfield Road Day Nursery School, Lawn Lane Day Nursery School.
How much does nursery cost in Chelmsford?
In East of England, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £192 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Chelmsford?
57 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 46 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Runwell · South Woodham Ferrers · Danbury · Writtle · Great Baddow · Moulsham · Springfield · Boreham · Chelmer · Great Leighs · Rettendon
Neighbourhoods
Boreham & Little Baddow · Central Chelmsford East · Central Chelmsford West · Chelmer Village · Great Baddow North & East · Great Baddow South & West · Great Leighs & the Walthams · Melbourne · Melbourne Park, Chignall & Pleshey · Moulsham East · Moulsham West · South Broomfield · Springfield North · Springfield South & Coronation Park · Waterhouse Lane & Admirals Park
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.