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Polka Dot Farm

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Mar 2025)
·
5.0(122 parent reviews)
·The Outlet, Tye Common Road, Billericay, CM12 9SD · Essex
Number of places
104 places
Age range
1–5 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2025
Local authority
Essex

About this day nursery

Polka Dot Farm offers a reimagined childcare experience, drawing on over 40 years of combined industry expertise from its founders, who are also parents themselves. They strive to create an environment that fosters growth and creativity in children, while seamlessly integrating with the modern world.

The nursery emphasises the importance of outdoor play, boasting extensive outdoor spaces and a "Sun Smart" policy for warmer weather, including a covered outdoor classroom. They actively engage with parents through weekly feedback loops, ensuring that any concerns or positive experiences are shared and addressed.

The nursery also values its team, celebrating their hard work and dedication with initiatives like a two-year service bonus and provisions for outdoor wear. Located in Billericay, the farm-like setting provides a tranquil yet accessible environment for children to learn and explore.

What it's like

Children from babies upwards are extremely keen and excited learners, thriving on exploring the farm environment with the superb support of positive staff. They confidently guide much of their own learning, and staff extensively use their knowledge of the bespoke curriculum to provide exceptionally high-standard teaching. This results in children becoming strong, confident, and inquisitive learners provided with very effective learning opportunities.

Emphasis on outdoor playExperienced founders (40+ years)Strong parent and staff feedback loopFarm-like setting

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2023

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Polka Dot Farm

Last inspected 13 March 2025 · Lynn Hughes, Tina Mason

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Children from babies upwards are extremely keen and excited learners, thriving on exploring the farm environment with the superb support of positive staff. They confidently guide much of their own learning, and staff extensively use their knowledge of the bespoke curriculum to provide exceptionally high-standard teaching. This results in children becoming strong, confident, and inquisitive learners provided with very effective learning opportunities.

Inspector highlights

  • The nursery is led and managed by an extremely effective management team, which includes the providers.
  • Leaders work with a wide range of other professionals to support families, such as specialists in speech and language and physiotherapy.
  • Parents speak extremely positively about their child's nursery experiences.
  • Staff use their expert knowledge of how children learn to deliver all aspects of the well-considered curriculum.
  • Babies are highly motivated and show great enthusiasm in the meaningful learning opportunities.
Inspection #10379642 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak extremely positively about their child's nursery experiences at Polka Dot Farm.

They cannot speak highly enough about the dedicated and individual care and attention their children receive from the staff.

They are extremely happy with the extra-curricular activities provided for their children and comment that they believe these are contributing to their children making exceptional progress in their learning and development.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders work with a wide range of other professionals to support families attending the nursery. For example, they have links with specialists in speech and language, physiotherapy, nutrition, and health and safety.

Outdoor space

Children thrive on exploring and investigating the farm environment. When going for walks outside, they follow staff's clear instructions and understand safety rules.

Parent Reviews of Polka Dot Farm

5.0
(122)
Jemma Thomas
7 months ago

Wonderful experience at Polka dot farm nursery! We couldn’t be happier with the care and attention our daughter receives here since it first opened. The staff are warm, professional, and truly dedicated to each child’s well-being and development. Every day, our little one comes home excited to share what they’ve learned and the fun activities they’ve done. My daughter loves it and my son has now joined the Nest room and he absolutely loves it too. The communication with parents is excellent — we’re always kept informed about progress, meals, and daily updates. The environment is safe, clean, and full of engaging learning opportunities. It’s clear that the team genuinely loves what they do. Highly recommend Polka Dot Farm to any family looking for a truly special nursery with such dedicated teachers.

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Sarah Collins
6 months ago

As a first time mum putting my son into nursery was always a daunting thought for me and I'd recieved so many negative opinions. As soon as I viewed Polka Dot Farm, I fell in love with the setting and instantly felt relieved that I'd found the perfect place for my son Jude. The nursery was everything and more I wanted for Jude. An outdoors setting for him to explore (since he's always dog walked with his mummy!) And the opportunity to spend the day with different animals. I can't wait for him to grow his own fruit and veggies. Since Jude started he has settled in really well and recieved the best care and attentiveness. It's clear the staff really love their jobs and care for the children. A special mention to Demi and Lauren in our room 'The Burrow' who have been really warm, caring and professional. I couldn't have asked for better staff members to attend to Judes specific allergies (cows milk protein and sometimes soya). Jude loves Lauren, as soon as he started she kept us up to date with photos and regular messages, which put our minds at rest. She regularly completes observations for Jude. She is ethuastic, caring, professional, nurturing and dedicated. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this nursery to anyone! Thank you so much for everything so far Polka Dot Farm.

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Sidney Hanson
7 months ago

Since starting back on 6/11/2024, Polka Dot Farm has exceeded my expectations for a nursery! The vibes are immaculate day in, day out. It really is truly amazing to be part of such a big and beautiful farmly. They really do care about their staff no matter the situation, and the same for the children, each and every staff care immensely about the care and learning they provide. The outdoor spaces they have are brilliant not only for the children but the staff too and I honestly have never been more happy or content then I have been this past year! How lucky I am to be part of such a big loving team 💚🩷

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Katie Davies
7 months ago

My husband and I have been so impressed with our daughter’s initial experience of nursery. She has settled so quickly at Polka Dot and the staff communication has been outstanding! The team in The Burrow are so attentive and we are so pleased with the detailed summary we receive at the end of the nursery day. The activities staff plan for the children look so much fun and the team make a conscious effort to take the babies outside, which was one of the reasons why we chose Polka Dot Farm. Thank you so much for all that you do, it means so much to us, especially as first time parents!

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Faye Keeble
6 months ago

There’s nothing quite like Polka Dot Farm. We watched them build and create an amazing place that everyone was talking about and it has exceeded all expectations. We put our name down at 3 months pregnant because quite simply there was nowhere else in the running. Everything is so well thought out and everyone is super friendly and professional. I’m always kept informed as a parent and receive such personalised care even though they have many children to look after. There is always something to get involved in from parent nights to family days which makes you feel part of the experience too and they go above and beyond! The food is super healthy and caters for all needs which has been really important for us. Having a child with allergies made this a nerve wrecking step for us, but the team couldn’t do more to keep our daughter safe and keep our minds at rest. There are always so many activities each day and I’m always blown away with how much they do and I love that a big chunk of their day is in the fresh air and nature. Thank you especially to the Burrow staff. Tracey, Lauren and Demi, you have been amazing and my daughter loves her time with you all, she is always excited as we pull into the carpark and at 10 months old that says a lot. She settled in from the off and I’ve never had to worry. And to Charlotte for all the adaptations you make to help make our days easier, it’s made all the difference and nothing is too much trouble. It goes without saying, but thank you Faye for always entertaining my wacky humour and making sure we’re ok :) I wouldn’t want my daughter anywhere else. Keep doing what you’re doing 🩷💚

Read on Google

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Inspection history

Most recent inspection

13 March 2025

Outstanding

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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