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53 nurseries in Colchester

Every day nursery in Colchester on the Ofsted register, best rated first, with what a place costs in East of England after the free hours.

53 day nurseries
7 rated Outstanding
11 with a new report card (21%)
3,182 places in total
£141 a week, 50 hours for a 2 year old after free hours

Best-rated nurseries in Colchester

The top of our Colchester ranking: Ofsted's outcome first, then the newest inspection.

Best-rated day nurseries in Colchester
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1East Bergholt Young Explorers CO7 6QTStrong standard in all 624 February 202660
2Busy Bees Day Nursery at Colchester Severalls Business Park CO4 9ASStrong standard in all 66 February 2026106
3The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd CO5 8JBStrong standard in all 64 February 202630
4Nannas Day Nurseries CO4 5JRStrong standard in all 628 November 202560
5Chesterwell Day Nursery CO4 6AZStrong standard in all 627 November 202584

Day nurseries in Colchester, best rated first

All 53 day nurseries in Colchester
#NurseryOfsted outcomeInspectedPlaces
1East Bergholt Young Explorers CO7 6QTStrong standard in all 624 February 202660
2Busy Bees Day Nursery at Colchester Severalls Business Park CO4 9ASStrong standard in all 66 February 2026106
3The Mulberry Bush Montessori Nursery Ltd CO5 8JBStrong standard in all 64 February 202630
4Nannas Day Nurseries CO4 5JRStrong standard in all 628 November 202560
5Chesterwell Day Nursery CO4 6AZStrong standard in all 627 November 202584
6Brinkley Lane Day Nursery School CO4 9XNOutstanding26 September 202554
7Lavender Hall Kindergarten CO7 6QTOutstanding17 January 202557
8Ladybirds Pre-School CO7 8HQOutstanding7 December 202330
9Nannas Neighbourhood Nursery CO4 3JPOutstanding10 November 202256
10Just Imagine Day Nursery - Colchester Academy Ltd CO4 3JLOutstanding1 November 202237
11Caterpillars Pre-School CO2 0LZOutstanding28 June 202216
12Nannas Day Nurseries CO4 5XTOutstanding14 June 202244
13The Wilson Marriage Centre Nursery, Little Learners CO1 2LRExpected standard in 4 of 620 November 202522
14Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Stanway CO3 0RHExpected standard in 5 of 614 April 2026159
15Angelina's Day Care Ltd CO1 2TXExpected standard in 5 of 62 February 202690
16Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool CO4 6BTExpected standard in all 611 February 2026108
17Brimpton House Nursery CO5 9AEExpected standard in all 623 January 202654
18Little Owls Preschool (Boxted) CO4 5REGood26 September 202533
19Colchester Montessori Day Nursery CO2 8WJGood24 July 202598
20Squirrels Pre-School CO4 9SRGood2 July 202526
21Chestnut House Kindergarten CO4 5LEGood28 May 202576
22Holly Corner Kindergarten CO3 4RXGood20 May 202537
23Plume Avenue Nursery CO3 4PQGood18 March 202560
24The Old Schoolhouse Kindergarten CO3 8PBGood17 February 202546
25Oaklea Montessori Cic CO1 2DEGood11 February 202526
26Tiptree Day Nursery and Pre-School CO5 0JPGood18 December 202434
27Pippins Day Nursery and Preschool CO6 2QFGood4 October 202469
28Milldene Playgroup CO5 0JHGood24 September 202430
29Butterfly Blue Day Nursery CO2 7FJGood21 August 2024120
30Kiddi Caru Nursery CO2 8JBGood29 July 2024122
31Little Peeps Nursery CO5 9QBGood21 June 202427
32Wivenhoe Park Day Nursery CO4 3SQGood19 March 2024147
33Dragonfly Day Nursery Ltd CO1 1DZGood5 January 202468
34Second Steps Day Nursery (Colchester) Limited CO3 4RGGood12 October 202369
35Banana Moon Colchester CO1 1TYGood27 September 2023106
36The Beeches Pre-school CO4 3AQGood18 September 202314
37Childsplay Day Nursery CO1 1XFGood13 September 202370
38Munchkins Nursery and Pre School CO7 0ABGood30 March 202354
39Woodland Barn Day Nursery CO1 2EXGood11 January 202348
40Busy Bees Day Nursery at Colchester Stanway CO3 8LTGood2 November 2022103
41Lexden Lodge Kindergarten CO3 3QDGood17 October 2022125
42Holmwood House Nursery CO6 4DYGood14 July 202244
43Orchard Barn Nursery CO7 7PQGood10 June 202268
44Absolute Angels Montessori Nursery CO6 1TTGood24 May 202238
45Oaklea Montessori St John's CO4 0HPGood7 April 202224
46Orchard Barn Stratford St Mary CO7 6JUGood9 February 202237
47Sunhill Early Learning Colchester CO4 5QJGood8 December 202187
48The Beeches Pre-School Annexe CO4 3XGGood17 September 202123
49Woodland Corner CO6 4HYGood12 July 202128
50Tiddlywinks Preschool CO6 4ATNeeds attention in 3 of 617 March 202640
51Dalemor Explorer Nursery CO6 2NSNot yet gradedNot yet63
52Parents Dream CO6 3BWNot yet gradedNot yet
53Woodland House Day Nursery CO7 7PJNot yet gradedNot yet55

How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.

Nurseries by postcode in Colchester

Colchester is in Essex and Suffolk.

Nursery fees in Colchester

What day nurseries in East of England charge on average. Fees in Colchester itself can sit above or below this.

Average weekly price in term time, East of England, Coram Childcare Survey 2026
Child's age25 hours a week50 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 Colchester

The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in Colchester as anywhere in England. Every day nursery listed here is registered with Ofsted, which is what a nursery needs to offer them.

Check which hours your child can get

WhoFree hours a week
Working parents, child from 9 months30 hours
Every 3 and 4 year old15 hours
2 year olds in families getting some benefits15 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.