Little Darwins Nursery in Chelmsford provides care for children aged from one to eleven years. The day nursery is open all year, with the exception of one week at Christmas and public holidays. It operates Monday to Friday, with sessions running from 7am until 7pm. At its inspection in July 2023, Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of the setting to be Outstanding.
The inspector found that children access outstanding learning opportunities in well-designed indoor and outdoor environments. Outdoor activities include using child-sized rakes, a water pump, and an obstacle course. Ofsted reported that children’s behaviour is exemplary and that they are happy and engaged. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, staff work with families and external agencies to create individual learning plans. This supports children to make clear and consistent progress.
Our ethos
At Little Darwins Nursery, we aim to provide an accessible environment that emphasises the outdoors and natural world. We encourage children to be explorers and innovators through a curriculum that intrigues and fascinates them. Our Hygge journey promotes warmth, belonging, and togetherness for all children, families, and educators, setting them off on the right course. We value outdoor culture, community capital, and fostering independent and active learners.
What it's like
Children are extremely enthusiastic and happy on arrival to the setting, feeling safe and having formed strong attachments with their key person. They are fully engaged in high-quality learning experiences planned through a well-sequenced curriculum, accessing outstanding opportunities in both indoor and outdoor environments. Children, including babies, exhibit exemplary behaviour, and are confident to explore and play while knowing an adult is nearby.
The nursery offers funded sessions between 9am and 3pm, which incur additional daily charges for consumables. Parents can choose to purchase lunch or provide a packed lunch, and there are small daily charges for snacks and sensory materials. Full session fee rates must be requested directly.
Funding accepted
Good to know
Session types
Full day care (7:30am-6pm, 51 weeks), Full day care (8am-5pm, 51 weeks), Short day (9am-3pm, 38 weeks), Wrap around care for school aged children (Rettendon primary school only), Holiday club for school aged children (all schools welcome)
Opening hours
7am to 6pm, 51 weeks per year
Age range
3 months to school age
Term time / All Year
All Year
Registered with Ofsted
2011
Last inspected 27 July 2023
What it's like to attend
Children are extremely enthusiastic and happy on arrival to the setting, feeling safe and having formed strong attachments with their key person. They are fully engaged in high-quality learning experiences planned through a well-sequenced curriculum, accessing outstanding opportunities in both indoor and outdoor environments. Children, including babies, exhibit exemplary behaviour, and are confident to explore and play while knowing an adult is nearby.
Inspector highlights
Inclusion & environment
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities make clear and consistent progress in their learning and development. Staff have very high expectations of the children. They work with external agencies and families to create individual learning plans for children. Children have access to high-quality learning experiences, which supports them to achieve the next steps in their learning.
Children access outstanding learning opportunities in the well-designed indoor and outdoor environments. They use child-sized rakes to gather and move bark using their gross motor skills, and skilfully make sandcastles in the sand and use a water pump in the garden. They master a challenging obstacle course, using their hand-to-eye coordination and physical skills.
Would definitely recommend. All 3 of my children have gone here. Staff are wonderful and my children have really bonded with them. Really helped us through the process of getting my daughter diagnosed with autism and spotted it early, which in turn help us get help in place for when she started school
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Little Darwins Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Date: November 2011
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Little Darwins Nursery.
Runwell · SS11 7LH
Wickford · SS11 7JJ
Chelmsford · CM3 8BH
Essex · SS11 8SH
Chelmsford · CM3 5NH
Wickford · SS11 7AS
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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more
