Nurseries in Braintree
Braintree is a popular family-friendly district combining market-town living, countryside villages and excellent travel links across Essex and into London. Covering postcode districts CM7, CM77 and parts of CM6, it includes Braintree Town, Great Notley, Rayne, Cressing and Black Notley. Families benefit from connections to London Liverpool Street via Braintree and Witham stations, as well as road links including the A120 and A131. Local attractions include Great Notley Country Park, Braintree Village shopping outlet, museums and playgrounds. With ongoing housing development and strong school catchment areas, childcare demand is steady, especially around Great Notley and Braintree Town.
Parents in Braintree typically pay £83 per day for childcare, which is slightly 10% higher than the UK average.
- Average Daily Cost
- £83
- Comparison
- +10% vs UK Average
- Total Capacity
- 1,504 places
Nurseries near you in Braintree
Frequently Asked Questions
In Braintree, private nurseries typically accept children from around 3 months old depending on staffing and availability. School and council nurseries usually offer places from age 2 or 3. Funded early education begins the term after a child’s 3rd birthday, with some families eligible earlier.
All 3 and 4-year-olds in England can access 15 funded hours per week, with up to 30 hours available to many working families. Eligible 2-year-olds can also receive funded hours, and working parents of children from 9 months old may access funded childcare. Tax-Free Childcare adds a 20 percent government top-up to payments.
Nursery fees in Braintree generally range from £60–£110 per day, with Great Notley often slightly higher due to strong demand and newer housing areas.
All nurseries in Braintree are regulated by Ofsted, with early years funding overseen by Essex County Council.
Ask about outdoor areas, local outings to parks, staff retention, waiting list length and any extra fees for meals or extended days.
Applying for funding
Braintree is covered by Essex County Council, the local authority for this area. Visit their website to apply for early years funding.
Apply for funding on the Essex County Council website
