Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester

Braiswick Primary School, Apprentice Drive, Colchester CO4 5QJ
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9.8 60 Reviews
  • Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester, Colchester
Located within the grounds of Braiswick Primary School, Sunhill Colchester offers a safe, secure and happy environment for children, enabling them to develop at their own pace, whilst having fun, making friends and becoming a confident and independent little person. The nursery offers exceptional care, enriched by unique learning opportunities for your child. One such experience is child-friendly cooking classes, helping to equip children with valuable skills and deeper knowledge of the cooking process.

The nursery offers 3 age-appropriate rooms which have been carefully planned to help children's learning and development as they grow. Each room has individual access to a free flow area which consists of a big sandpit, a music and water wall, and a newly planted sensory garden for the children to manage and investigate.

The children are also able to explore the nursery's big open space which consists of climbing apparatus, a mud kitchen, an investigation area for the children to look for and identify bugs and a bug hotel.

As the nursery is conveniently located on school grounds, the children are able to access some of the school's facilities such as Forest school and the use of the hall for yoga sessions.

The location also aids children's progression to 'big school' whether they will attend Braiswick Primary School or elsewhere. Being located in a school setting helps the children to become familiar with a school environment.

Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester proudly offers an exclusive 5% discount on fees for those working for the police and fire services. Please contact the nursery for more information.

Care Provided by Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Elaine Sim (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 13
  • Total Places for Children
  • 65
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester

  • AM/PM Session £53.80
    Full Day Session £88.90


  • A £100 non-refundable registration fee is required to secure a place. Exact days of attendance should be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to the child’s start date. Any changes are subject to availability.


  • Parking
  • The nursery has 10 car parking spaces in front of the nursery for parents and visitors.


Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester Reviews (60)

Total of 60, showing 41-60
9.8

Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.831) out of 10, based on 15 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester has 60 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 2.0 out of 5

I had a very bad experience with my child going there, not coming home happy, always getting ill. When I asked how it was her, the only thing I get as an answer was she slept for two hours and has not eaten much. I was worried about my child's speech. Plans were put in place but not much was done at
school. Now my daughter is happy, starting talking and loves her new school and no issue with her health. I am very pleased I took her out of there.

Reply from Jo Bamforth, Marketing Manager at Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester

Thank you for your feedback. We are really sorry that your experience at our nursery wasn’t as we would have all hoped. As discussed at the time, we involved our specialist 2 year coordinator to support your child’s needs. As your child was only with us for 3 months and didn’t attend regularly, we weren’t able to support you and your child as much as we would have liked. We are extremely pleased that your child is thriving in a new setting. If you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thanks.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

The staff are great, very friendly, and the kids enjoying going. My kids attend a breakfast club and after school club. Facilities are good, keeps them busy and happy. Food isn't always as substantial as it could be, but I appreciate staff trying out different food types to give the kids variety.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little one is always super happy to go to the nursery, and I always got a lot of help and clear direction when needed.
I love the place, as I already book my little one a place for after school classes available.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to Sunhill Colchester, and I’m very happy. She loves the after school club. The staff are also very helpful, friendly and seem to care about my child, which is very important for us as parents.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son absolutely adores the nursery and runs in every day so happy and tells me every day 'I like school', he is 2-years-old and spends 4 days a week here. The staff are fantastic and knowledgeable, and I really couldn't ask for a better experience for my son. It is very child-led and inclusive.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little girl started when I was returning to work and she loves it there! She has settled so well and everyone is so welcoming when she arrives at nursery in the morning. All the staff knows her name and she has built good relationships with them all. I can't fault her care in any way and she always
has a fun-filled day when she is there.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son started pre-school following lockdown and has been anxious about starting. The team at Sunhill Colchester have been amazing! All the staff have been so caring and kind to ensure he settles, and reassures him throughout the day when he keeps asking when mummy is coming back. My worries of leaving
him are really put at ease by seeing how the team are quick to distract him and play his favourite games - football! Thank you all.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery is lovely, and the staff are lovely and friendly.
I love my kids coming here.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

I started taking my son to this nursery two months ago; it was the first time going to a nursery for him. We both were very nervous, but thanks to the kind management and nursery teachers, it only took a couple of sessions for my son to start loving the place and staff. Thank you all.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We were anxious about sending our daughter back to nursery after lockdown but she had such a great time after the second day telling us all about it. I think this really reflects just how much the staff care and want to create happy positive memories for the children.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are very pleased about this nursery, all the staff are very careful with our child and of course, she is happy to go every morning. Friendly, kind staff and inside everything is clean, the children have lots of activities.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter started in September 2019 and since starting her confidence has increased tenfold. She loves going and has made some lovely friends. The staff are lovely, caring and we have has so much support. It has a wonderful atmosphere and my daughter has had an amazing time.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been going to the Preschool since September 2019 and has settled in really well, much better than one anticipated. She looks forward to going and talks positively about her days there. She has made lots of new friends and gets on with all the staff. We are very happy and satisfied with
the care she receives.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery is a great location with wonderful resources but the best attribute of Sunhill is the staff. My son has attended for nearly two years and knows all the staff members names - and they know his, which is lovely and has a family feel. The varied, homecooked meals are also brilliant and enjoyed.
The girls run the nursery so well and are always really helpful with any questions or queries I have. I have recommended Sunhill to other parents and will continue to.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

The nursery staff are wonderful. Unfortunately, they and the parents are extremely disappointed since it changed hands. The fees are absolutely disgusting. My daughter attends breakfast and after school club (until 4.45 pm) but they now charge parents until 6 pm regardless of whether they are picked
up before then. I am now in a worse financial position than when my daughter attended a nursery for a whole day. The menu they give to the children is awkward and not catered for children (olives, salmon etc) things that children do not eat! At the end of a long day, children want the comfort of a good meal like sausage mash and veg, pizza, spag bol - foods that delight their taste buds, not repel them. We have also been informed that they will now remove their snack which they get once they arrive after school, expecting children to go from 12 until 4 pm without eating anything, not even a piece of fruit, yet they are still charging the parents the same.

Reply from Kirsty Love, Head of Childcare and Operations at Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester

Thank you for your review. We have completed a full refurbishment since the takeover and have had positive feedback from parents and staff. Our fees are in line with other nurseries who offer out of school club care. We have been awarded with healthy eating awards for our menus, which are in line with national guidance. We have changed the time of tea to bring it forward and offer a piece of fruit after tea. The Nursery Manager will arrange a meeting with you to discuss this further.
Kind regards.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

We are really pleased both with the nursery for our two-year-old and also with the breakfast/after school club. The staff are all lovely and really helpful. Both my children really like going and we really feel that they both get a lot out of attending! The quality of the care of the children and the
facilities are great.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Great facilities and lovely, welcoming and friendly staff. My son has settled in better than I can imagine. I have had a lot of support with toilet training.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Excellent experience. Professional room leaders who permanently care about the children. This nursery setting has provided a fun environment for my toddler to meet lots of new friends and to prepare for school. Excellent preschool and prepping for school, and a very good relationship with local schools
where children have formed a relationship with their prospective teacher.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our son has had a lovely experience at the nursery. He speaks fondly of it and has made some great friends there. The staff are very warm and welcoming and provide a great environment in which to care for the children. Our son talks about the staff positively and loves the activities he is involved
in. He adores the outside space and spends a large portion of his time there. It is a lovely bright and open space. Overall, we are very happy with his care.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

A lovely nursery with very friendly and caring staff. A happy place for children to thrive.

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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.831)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.831) out of 10 for Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 15 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 15 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.831 for Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester is calculated as follows: ( (154 Excellents x 5) + (19 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (1 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 178 Ratings = 4.831

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Sunhill Day Nursery Colchester is based on 15 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 15 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

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Meet the Team (1)

Elaine

Elaine

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2017

Qualifications: Level 3