Ellie's Nursery

Garden potions, books and babies practising their first steps gave Ellie's Nursery a recognisable character in September 2025: play combined conversation, imagination and movement. In September 2025, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged its education positively and found safeguarding effective. There were also clear teaching priorities: more consistent challenge and more time for children to answer questions.

Based in Epping, the nursery accepts children aged 3 to 60 months and has 45 places in total. These are whole-nursery places, rather than a measure of the size of any particular group.

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, learning and care belong together: conversation, physical activity and relationships all contribute to the nursery day.

In September 2025, songs and shared books supported language development across the rooms. Staff offered tangible choices to children who used little or no speech, giving them a way to communicate. In the garden, children mixed pretend potions and invited staff into their play, creating opportunities to use imagination through shared activity.

Movement took different forms for different ages. Babies practising walking had space cleared of obstacles and used walkers; older children experimented with bikes and scooters. Older children also played together while younger children slept, allowing time with their peers.

The teaching priorities matter alongside those examples. Challenge varied between staff, and children sometimes moved away from activities quickly. High noise levels could interrupt listening, while adults often supplied answers before children had expressed their own ideas. Sustaining attention and allowing thinking time were therefore important next steps.

In September 2025, children turned to their key person for comfort before exploring unfamiliar parts of the setting. Staff used calm speech and encouraged turn-taking, helping children understand how to play alongside others. Children also approached adults when they needed help.

Safer-sleep procedures formed part of care at that time. Communication with families included home learning packs containing suggestions for supporting learning beyond nursery. These gave parents practical activities to continue at home, rather than leaving learning confined to the nursery day.

The address is 230 High street, Epping, CM16 4AP. The accepted age range extends from babies to children aged 60 months.

In September 2025, opening hours were 7.45am to 6pm on weekdays, with year-round operation except bank holidays. At that time, the nursery provided funded early education for eligible children. Eligibility remains a condition of that offer.

• Thinking time. In September 2025, adults often answered before children could respond. During a visit, look for pauses that let children form and express their own ideas.
• Sustained engagement. Challenge was uneven in September 2025, and children did not always stay with activities for long. Look at how staff adapt an activity when a child needs greater challenge or support.
• Attendance arrangements. Which booking patterns and current opening hours would accommodate your family's working day?

The September 2025 inspection picture points to Ellie's Nursery as a choice for families who value key-person relationships, imaginative garden play and practical links between home and nursery learning. Its Good judgement came with teaching priorities identified then: more consistent challenge and more time for children to think and speak.