Full-day nursery in Mile End, Essex
Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool
1b Whitmore Drive, Colchester, CO4 6BT · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted report card
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Behaviour and routinesExpected standard
- Children's welfare and well-beingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingStandards met
What does this mean?
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each nursery a report card. Each area is graded on a five-step scale: urgent improvement, needs attention, expected standard, strong standard, exceptional. Safeguarding is either met or not met. There is no single headline grade, and we never make one up.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since April 2024Reference 2788198Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 11 February 2026Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places108 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 19 November 2025Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
Fees, hours and ages: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
Estimate a monthly cost with the council area's typical day rate
Hours and ages
Opening hours and ages: not published yet.
Getting there
1b Whitmore Drive, Colchester, CO4 6BT · More nurseries in CO4
Buses
3 bus stops within 400 m, including Olympic Boulevard and Bedford Road.
Parks and playgrounds
- Mill Road Sports Ground6 min walk
- High Woods Country Park7 min walk
- Playground3 min walk
- Playground4 min walk
- Playground5 min walk
- Playground6 min walk
NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Essex there are about 2.9 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
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Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool is a full-day nursery at 1b Whitmore Drive, Colchester, CO4 6BT, in Mile End, Essex. It is registered for 108 children. Its Ofsted report card (February 2026) grades inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard; safeguarding standards met. It is run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited.
Run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited (company), which runs 245 nurseries.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and PreschoolThis nursery | Report card 2026 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | This nursery |
| Rainbow PlaygroupSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| Chestnut House KindergartenFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.4 miles |
| Chesterwell Day NurseryFull-day nursery | Report card 2025 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.6 miles |
| Myland Pre-School CICSessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.7 miles |
| Nannas Day NurseriesFull-day nursery | Report card 2025 | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.8 miles |
| Nannas Day NurseriesFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.8 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- Camulos Academy Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Standards maintainedinspected November 2024 0.1 miles
- North East Essex Co-operative Academy ages 4–16Ofsted: Goodinspected July 2024 0.4 miles
- Myland Community Primary School Primaryages 5–11Ofsted: Improved significantlyinspected February 2025 0.5 miles
- Queen Boudica Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected March 2023 0.8 miles
- Brinkley Grove Primary School Primaryages 5–11Ofsted: Some aspects not as stronginspected October 2024 0.9 miles
- Highwoods Community Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving)inspected June 2024 0.9 miles
- The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Goodinspected March 2025 1.2 miles
- St John's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Colchester Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: School remains Goodinspected October 2022 1.4 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
What is Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool's Ofsted rating?
Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool was inspected on 11 February 2026 and given an Ofsted report card. Report cards grade each area separately rather than giving one headline grade: inclusion Expected standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Expected standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard. Safeguarding standards met.
How many children can Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool take?
Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool is registered with Ofsted for up to 108 children at any one time.
Who runs Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool?
Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool is run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited, which runs 245 nurseries.
What is the nearest station to Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool?
Colchester is the nearest station we know of, 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Bright Horizons Colchester Day Nursery and Preschool?
You can call 01206 598537 and visit www.brighthorizons.co.uk.
Tools for parents in Essex
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in EssexFees by age in Essex
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- Contains Department for Transport NaPTAN data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Last checked 4 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2788198 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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