7 nurseries in CO3 (Lexden, Fordham Heath, Stanway)
Every day nursery with a CO3 postcode, best rated first, and what a place costs in East of England after the free hours.
Day nurseries in CO3 (Lexden, Fordham Heath, Stanway), best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Stanway CO3 0RH | Expected standard in 5 of 6 | 14 April 2026 | 159 |
| 2 | Holly Corner Kindergarten CO3 4RX | Good | 20 May 2025 | 37 |
| 3 | Plume Avenue Nursery CO3 4PQ | Good | 18 March 2025 | 60 |
| 4 | The Old Schoolhouse Kindergarten CO3 8PB | Good | 17 February 2025 | 46 |
| 5 | Second Steps Day Nursery (Colchester) Limited CO3 4RG | Good | 12 October 2023 | 69 |
| 6 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Colchester Stanway CO3 8LT | Good | 2 November 2022 | 103 |
| 7 | Lexden Lodge Kindergarten CO3 3QD | Good | 17 October 2022 | 125 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
CO3 is in Essex, covering Colchester.
Nursery fees in CO3
What day nurseries in East of England charge on average. Fees in CO3 itself can sit above or below this.
| Child's age | 25 hours a week | 50 hours a week |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | £192no funded hours | £155after 30 funded hours |
| 2 years old | £176no funded hours | £141after 30 funded hours |
| 3 to 4 years old | £67after the free 15 hours | £135after 30 funded hours |
Regional average, not any one nursery's price. Source: Coram Childcare Survey 2026. Work out your own monthly cost.
30 hours free childcare in CO3
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in CO3 as anywhere in England. Every day nursery listed here is registered with Ofsted, which is what a nursery needs to offer them.
| Who | Free hours a week |
|---|---|
| Working parents, child from 9 months | 30 hours |
| Every 3 and 4 year old | 15 hours |
| 2 year olds in families getting some benefits | 15 hours |
Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.
Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.
Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.