Batford Day Care
OutstandingTakes funded hours★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Harpenden for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in August 2025. Open since 2005, with 63 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
All families in England are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare or early education for 3 and 4-year-olds for 38 weeks.
Worth knowing. Places are offered at Batford Nursery School on the condition that the 15 hours should be accessed solely at Batford Nursery School.
What childcare usually costs in Hertfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hertfordshire from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
AL5 5BQWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 10 January 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 27 August 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children flourish in this nurturing, safe environment. They are extremely well settled and happy. Children are highly engaged, focused and involved in all areas of learning from a young age. The excellent staff are attentive to children's individual needs. Children are supported exceptionally well and make rapid progress. The setting's unique support programme ensures all children make the best possible progress.
The children's behaviour is exemplary. They have a clear understanding of what is right and wrong. Staff are inspirational role models, and children learn how to be kind and respectful to others. Children play exceptionally well with each other. They are fully involved and engaged and have high levels of well-being.
There is an outstanding curriculum in place, which is clearly sequenced. The setting is well-resourced and provides an inspiring environment both inside and outside.
- 27 August 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 14 January 2020Good
- 24 May 2016Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Batford Day Care
- What it costs
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.