Brock House Nursery School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 3.3 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in St. Albans for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 2002, with 70 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
We are registered for the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme, and also administer the “Free Childcare Hours” scheme on parents behalf.
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
AL1 3PBWhat 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.
Ofsted inspector, 23 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed as they arrive at this nursery. Parents are given time to share important information about their children so staff can meet their needs effectively. Children separate well from their parents and show strong bonds with their key person, which helps them to feel safe and secure.
Throughout the nursery, children show they are confident. They enjoy exploring their environment and the range of resources that reflect their interests. For example, babies enjoy filling and emptying baskets with different objects such as metal tins. Staff provide activities that meet the needs of the children. For example, they encourage pre-school children to take part in scissor activities and moulding dough. This helps children to develop the muscles they need to support their early writing skills.
Staff deliver effective activities aimed at nurturing children's self-esteem and confidence. Children enjoy repeating daily affirmations, such as 'I am strong', which contributes to developing a positive self-image. Staff value and respect children's choices, listening attentively to them. For example, children identify what resources they would like out and record this on a chart. This helps children to feel valued and encourages them to shape their own learning and development. Children behave well. They follow the good example set by staff, who gently remind them of the rules about sharing and taking turns.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop a sharper focus in the curriculum to ensure it supports the individual learning needs of younger children in the nursery n support staff to encourage older children to do more for themselves to develop their independence even further.
- 23 November 2023Good
- 3 January 2018Good
- 2 January 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Brock House Nursery School
- What it costs
- Youngest age taken
- 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.