# The Hillside Barn

The Hillside Barn is a sessional pre-school at St. Martins Church, Brook Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 3LJ, in Little Waltham, Essex. It is registered for 16 children. It is run by Gemstones Nursery School Ltd.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-hillside-barn-2880938  
Last checked 4 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Sessional pre-school
- Address: St. Martins Church, Brook Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 3LJ
- Registered places: 16
- Phone: 01245 929299
- Website: https://www.hillside-gems.co.uk/
- Run by: [Gemstones Nursery School Ltd](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/gemstones-nursery-school-ltd)
- Ofsted URN: 2880938

## 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 2880938). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880938)
- Inspections on record: None yet. Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880938)
- Registered places: 16 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880938)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: St. Martins Church, Brook Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford, CM3 3LJ

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.786895,0.480730

- 2 bus stops within 400 m
- Playground: Playground, 0.2 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) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Great Waltham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Primary | 5–11 | School remains Good (October 2022) |  | 1.1 miles |
| Broomfield Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (July 2023) |  | 1.7 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 |  |  | 0.2 miles |
| [Hillside Playcare, Little Waltham](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/hillside-playcare-little-waltham-2880941) |  |  |  | 0.3 miles |
| [Broomfield Hospital Day Nursery School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/broomfield-hospital-day-nursery-school-ey472651) | Outstanding |  |  | 1.1 miles |
| [Up, Up and Away Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/up-up-and-away-pre-school-ey433248) | Good |  |  | 1.1 miles |
| [Channels Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/channels-day-nursery-2867525) |  |  |  | 1.4 miles |
| [Sunrise Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/sunrise-nursery-ey501508) | Good |  |  | 1.6 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### How many children can The Hillside Barn take?

The Hillside Barn is registered with Ofsted for up to 16 children at any one time.

### Who runs The Hillside Barn?

The Hillside Barn is run by Gemstones Nursery School Ltd, which runs 3 nurseries.

### How do I contact The Hillside Barn?

You can call 01245 929299 and visit www.hillside-gems.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2880938)
- 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.