Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Find a Nursery in Essex

4.8★ average from 2,806 parent reviews on Google

There are 387 Ofsted-registered day nurseries in Essex on our register. At their latest inspection: 73 rated Outstanding, 266 rated Good, 5 currently Requires Improvement — 99% of graded settings in this area are Good or better. 28 settings have already been inspected under Ofsted's new report card, which grades each area separately instead of giving a single headline word. Parents have left 2,830 Google reviews across 219 of these nurseries, averaging 4.8★. 242 confirm they accept government-funded hours, 182 are registered to take babies under two. Every listing shows the current Ofsted grade, opening hours, published fees and parent reviews so you can shortlist before booking a visit.

Nurseries in Essex at a glance

Based on Ofsted's register and parent reviews for every day nursery in Essex.

387
Ofsted-registered nurseries
99%
Good or Outstanding
4.8★
2,830 parent reviews
242
Accept funded hours
182
Take under-twos

Latest Ofsted grades

  • Outstanding73
  • Good266
  • Requires improvement5

43 awaiting a first inspection or with no published grade, and 28 inspected under Ofsted's new report card.

Highest rated in Essex

Towns & areas in Essex

All day nurseries in Essex

Frequently asked questions

How many day nurseries are there in Essex?
We list 387 Ofsted-registered day nurseries in Essex, 382 of which have a Essex address. The list is rebuilt from Ofsted's official register, so closures and new registrations show up within a week.
Which nurseries near Essex are rated Outstanding?
73 nurseries are currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted in Essex. Outstanding is the top grade and is awarded to a minority of settings, so also compare Good-rated nurseries on hours, fees and location.
What do parents say about nurseries near Essex?
Across 219 nurseries with enough reviews to average, parents in Essex have left 2,830 Google reviews at an average of 4.8★. Individual pages show the review text so you can look for recurring themes — settling-in, communication and staff turnover are the most useful signals.
Can I use funded hours at a nursery near Essex?
242 of the 387 nurseries in Essex (63%) confirm they accept government-funded early years hours. Eligibility depends on your child's age and your working status — check the nursery's own page for which funding codes they take and whether they charge for consumables on top.
Which nurseries near Essex take babies?
182 settings in Essex are registered to care for children from under two, and baby-room places are usually the first to fill. If you need a place before your child turns one, contact several nurseries as early as you can — waiting lists of six to twelve months are common.