Best nurseries in Southend-on-Sea
54 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 | Temple Sutton Early Years Full day care · 151 places · SS2 4BA | Outstanding (2025) |
| 2 | Fairways Pre School Playgroup Sessional day care · 36 places · SS9 4QW | Outstanding (2023) |
| 3 | Trinket Box Pre School Ltd Sessional day care · 58 places · SS1 3BS | Outstanding (2023) |
| 4 | Rascals Full day care · 53 places · SS9 4QW | Outstanding (2023) |
| 5 | Johnstone Road Pre-School Sessional day care · 35 places · SS1 3HQ | Outstanding (2023) |
| 6 | Small Friends Children's Day Nursery Full day care · 60 places · SS9 2HA | Outstanding (2022) |
| 7 | Le Ballon Rouge Montessori Day Nursery Full day care · 50 places · SS2 4LS | Outstanding (2022) |
| 8 | Kingsway Pre-School Sessional day care · 33 places · SS0 9XH | Outstanding (2022) |
| 9 | Little Acorns Preschool Sessional day care · 26 places · SS9 3PH | Outstanding (2020) |
| 10 | Little Superstars Nursery Full day care · 60 places · SS3 9DG | Good (2025) |
| 11 | Whitehouse Playgroup Preschool Full day care · 25 places · SS9 5SJ | Good (2025) |
| 12 | Little Treasures Full day care · 73 places · SS0 9NJ | Good (2025) |
| 13 | Sarah's Montessori Day Nursery Full day care · 75 places · SS0 8NE | Good (2025) |
| 14 | Ring O' Roses Pre School Sessional day care · 26 places · SS2 6LQ | Good (2025) |
| 15 | Royal Village Nursery Full day care · 100 places · SS1 1HD | Good (2025) |
| 16 | Little Turtles Pre-School The Cornerstone U.R.C. Sessional day care · 32 places · SS2 5JL | Good (2025) |
| 17 | Blenheim Early Years Full day care · 68 places · SS9 4HX | Good (2025) |
| 18 | Rocking Horse Childcare Full day care · 40 places · SS1 2AS | Good (2025) |
| 19 | Leigh Road Baptist Church Pre-School Sessional day care · 28 places · SS9 1NN | Good (2025) |
| 20 | Twizzle Tops Day Nursery Full day care · 76 places · SS2 4JN | Good (2024) |
| 21 | Oak House Montessori Ltd Full day care · 119 places · SS2 4JR | Good (2024) |
| 22 | Snaps Day Nursery Full day care · 38 places · SS0 9JG | Good (2024) |
| 23 | Southchurch Park Pre School Sessional day care · 27 places · SS1 2TH | Good (2024) |
| 24 | Peek A Boo Pre School Sessional day care · 20 places · SS9 1RG | Good (2024) |
| 25 | Kids Kingdom Daycare Full day care · 26 places · SS2 4FA | Good (2023) |
| 26 | Imperial Day Nursery Ltd Full day care · 52 places · SS0 8NQ | Good (2023) |
| 27 | Avenue Playgroup Sessional day care · 30 places · SS0 7JX | Good (2023) |
| 28 | Ladybird Nursery Full day care · 55 places · SS0 0SF | Good (2023) |
| 29 | Phoenix Pre-School Sessional day care · 23 places · SS9 1SY | Good (2023) |
| 30 | Humpty Dumpty Pre-school Sessional day care · 26 places · SS2 5PA | Good (2023) |
| 31 | Centre Place Nursery Full day care · 50 places · SS1 2JD | Good (2023) |
| 32 | Smiley Centre For Children Sessional day care · 40 places · SS9 2AR | Good (2023) |
| 33 | Cockleshell Nursery Full day care · 72 places · SS1 2UP | Good (2023) |
| 34 | Leigh Village Day Nursery Full day care · 100 places · SS9 1SG | Good (2023) |
| 35 | Stepping Stones Day Nursery & Preschool Full day care · 39 places · SS1 2RE | Good (2022) |
| 36 | Eastwood Community Early Years Full day care · 40 places · SS9 5AQ | Good (2021) |
| 37 | Dolly and Bear Day Nursery Full day care · 62 places · SS2 6LR | Good (2021) |
| 38 | Eastwood Community Pre-School Full day care · 47 places · SS2 6XY | Good (2020) |
| 39 | Little Fishes Pre-School Sessional day care · 60 places · SS3 9JD | Good (2020) |
| 40 | Kindred Westcliff Full day care · 88 places · SS0 0AL | Report card: 1 strong, 4 expected (Nov 2025) |
| 41 | Westcliff Pre School Sessional day care · 36 places · SS0 8LL | Report card: 5 needs attention (Jan 2026) |
| 42 | Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD Full day care · 53 places · SS0 0AX | Requires improvement (2025) |
| 43 | Active Academy - Unit 14 Leighcliff Buildings Full day care · 100 places · SS9 1PR | Not yet inspected |
| 44 | Eastwood Community Nursery Cabin Full day care · 170 places · SS2 6UH | Not yet inspected |
| 45 | Figure Of Eight Education Full day care · SS0 9TN | Not yet inspected |
| 46 | Friars Centre Playgroup Full day care · 62 places · SS3 9UT | Not yet inspected |
| 47 | Humpty Dumpty Pre School Sessional day care · 20 places · SS2 4AB | Not yet inspected |
| 48 | Kip McGrath Sessional day care · SS2 4LD | Not yet inspected |
| 49 | LEIGH TREASURES PRESCHOOL Sessional day care · 50 places · SS9 1SJ | Not yet inspected |
| 50 | Little Legs Full day care · 35 places · SS2 6SP | Not yet inspected |
| 51 | Lottie & Ollie Full day care · 30 places · SS9 2UW | Not yet inspected |
| 52 | Rocking Horse Childcare Shoebury Full day care · 129 places · SS3 9NS | Not yet inspected |
| 53 | Southchurch Park Pre-School Sessional day care · 87 places · SS1 2PT | Not yet inspected |
| 54 | Stagecoach Southend Sessional day care · SS2 6JH | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Southend-on-Sea?
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 Southend-on-Sea?
Of 54 nurseries and pre-schools in Southend-on-Sea, 9 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Temple Sutton Early Years, Fairways Pre School Playgroup, Trinket Box Pre School Ltd.
How much does nursery cost in Southend-on-Sea?
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 Southend-on-Sea?
54 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 42 of them inspected so far.
Neighbourhoods
Belfairs · Blenheim Park · Chalkwell · Eastwood · Eastwood Park · Kursaal · Leigh · Prittlewell · Shoeburyness · Southchurch · Southend Central · St Lukes · Thorpe Bay · Victoria · West Leigh · West Shoebury · Westborough
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.