34 nurseries in Southend on Sea
Every day nursery in the Southend on Sea council area, best rated first, with the ones Ofsted rated Outstanding and what a place costs after the free hours.
Outstanding nurseries in Southend on Sea
5 nurseries in the area are in our top band: rated Outstanding, or graded Strong standard or better across a new report card.
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centre Place Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Strong standard in all 6 | 12 March 2026 | 50 |
| 2 | Temple Sutton Early Years Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Outstanding | 22 July 2025 | 151 |
| 3 | Rascals Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Outstanding | 8 March 2023 | 53 |
| 4 | Small Friends Children's Day Nursery Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Outstanding | 25 May 2022 | 60 |
| 5 | Le Ballon Rouge Montessori Day Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Outstanding | 11 May 2022 | 50 |
Day nurseries in Southend on Sea, best rated first
| # | Nursery | Ofsted outcome | Inspected | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centre Place Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Strong standard in all 6 | 12 March 2026 | 50 |
| 2 | Temple Sutton Early Years Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Outstanding | 22 July 2025 | 151 |
| 3 | Rascals Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Outstanding | 8 March 2023 | 53 |
| 4 | Small Friends Children's Day Nursery Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Outstanding | 25 May 2022 | 60 |
| 5 | Le Ballon Rouge Montessori Day Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Outstanding | 11 May 2022 | 50 |
| 6 | Kindred Westcliff Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Expected standard in 4 of 6 | 21 November 2025 | 88 |
| 7 | Sunshine Day Nursery 2003 LTD Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Expected standard in all 6 | 31 March 2026 | 53 |
| 8 | Little Superstars Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS3 | Good | 30 September 2025 | 60 |
| 9 | Whitehouse Playgroup Preschool Southend on Sea, SS9 | Good | 29 September 2025 | 25 |
| 10 | Little Treasures Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Good | 15 September 2025 | 73 |
| 11 | Sarah's Montessori Day Nursery Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Good | 11 August 2025 | 75 |
| 12 | Royal Village Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Good | 1 July 2025 | 100 |
| 13 | Blenheim Early Years Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Good | 17 June 2025 | 68 |
| 14 | Rocking Horse Childcare Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Good | 7 May 2025 | 42 |
| 15 | Twizzle Tops Day Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Good | 9 August 2024 | 76 |
| 16 | Oak House Montessori Ltd Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Good | 12 June 2024 | 119 |
| 17 | Snaps Day Nursery Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Good | 9 May 2024 | 38 |
| 18 | Kids Kingdom Daycare Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Good | 11 December 2023 | 26 |
| 19 | Imperial Day Nursery Ltd Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Good | 18 September 2023 | 52 |
| 20 | Ladybird Nursery Westcliff-on-Sea, SS0 | Good | 6 July 2023 | 55 |
| 21 | Cockleshell Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Good | 14 March 2023 | 72 |
| 22 | Leigh Village Day Nursery Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Good | 27 January 2023 | 100 |
| 23 | Stepping Stones Day Nursery & Preschool Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Good | 6 April 2022 | 39 |
| 24 | Eastwood Community Early Years Leigh On Sea, SS9 | Good | 14 October 2021 | 40 |
| 25 | Dolly and Bear Day Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Good | 18 May 2021 | 62 |
| 26 | Eastwood Community Pre-School Southend on Sea, SS2 | Good | 6 February 2020 | 47 |
| 27 | Lottie & Ollie Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Needs attention in 2 of 6 | 10 March 2026 | 30 |
| 28 | Active Academy - Unit 14 Leighcliff Buildings Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 100 |
| 29 | Eastwood Community Nursery Cabin Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 170 |
| 30 | Figure Of Eight Education Westcliff On Sea, SS0 | Not yet graded | Not yet | |
| 31 | Friars Centre Playgroup Southend-on-Sea, SS3 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 46 |
| 32 | Little Flores Day Nursery Southend-on-Sea, SS1 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 51 |
| 33 | Little Legs Southend-on-Sea, SS2 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 35 |
| 34 | Rocking Horse Childcare Shoebury Southend-on-Sea, SS3 | Not yet graded | Not yet | 129 |
How the ranking works: our ranking policy. What the grades mean: Ofsted report cards explained.
Towns in Southend on Sea
Nurseries by postcode in Southend on Sea
Nursery fees in Southend on Sea
What day nurseries in East of England charge on average. Fees in Southend on Sea 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 Southend on Sea
The free hours follow national rules, so they are the same in Southend on Sea 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.