# Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham

Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham is a sessional pre-school at United Reformed Church, The Street, Little Waltham, CM3 3NT, in Little Waltham, Essex. It is registered for 48 children. It is run by Gemstones Nursery School Ltd.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/hillside-playcare-little-waltham-2880941  
Last checked 30 June 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Sessional pre-school
- Address: United Reformed Church, The Street, Little Waltham, CM3 3NT
- Registered places: 48
- Run by: [Gemstones Nursery School Ltd](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/gemstones-nursery-school-ltd)
- Ofsted URN: 2880941

## Ofsted and official records

Not yet inspected by Ofsted. The nursery is registered and has not had its first inspection yet.

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since April 2026 (Reference 2880941). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880941)
- Inspections on record: None yet. Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880941)
- Registered places: 48 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880941)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 4 November 2026). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/2006058)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: United Reformed Church, The Street, Little Waltham, CM3 3NT

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.788740,0.474809

- 6 bus stops within 400 m
- Playground: Playground, 0.1 miles

NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

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. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings


## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Waltham Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Good (July 2023) |  | 0.2 miles |
| Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Primary | 5–11 | School remains Good (October 2022) |  | 0.8 miles |
| Broomfield Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (July 2023) |  | 1.8 miles |
| Chelmer Valley High School | Secondary | 11–18 | Good (June 2023) |  | 1.2 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Waltham Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/waltham-preschool-ey544398) | Good |  |  | 0.1 miles |
| [The Hillside Barn](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-hillside-barn-2880938) |  |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| [Up, Up and Away Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/up-up-and-away-pre-school-ey433248) | Good |  |  | 0.8 miles |
| [Broomfield Hospital Day Nursery School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/broomfield-hospital-day-nursery-school-ey472651) | Outstanding |  |  | 1.0 miles |
| [Channels Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/channels-day-nursery-2867525) |  |  |  | 1.7 miles |
| [Sunrise Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/sunrise-nursery-ey501508) | Good |  |  | 1.7 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### How many children can Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham take?

Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham is registered with Ofsted for up to 48 children at any one time.

### Who runs Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham?

Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham is run by Gemstones Nursery School Ltd, which runs 3 nurseries.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880941)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.