Building Blocks Preschool Nurseries Ltd
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Watford for children from birth to 5, open 08:15 to 15:15, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2023. Open since 2020, with 28 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
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
WD17 4PYWhat 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, 20 November 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff actively seek and listen to the views of children. They provide children with regular opportunities to make choices about what they do at the setting. For example, during the inspection, children were asked to cast a vote for the 'vet' or
'construction' role play. Each child had a pebble to represent their choice, and they were given an individual opportunity to say what they wanted. Children were really eager to share their vote. This example demonstrates how staff include the voices of children to ensure they are heard, helping children to develop a positive attitude to learning.
Staff provide a warm and reassuring welcome to all children. This helps children to leave their parents and carers with ease. Staff build close bonds and attachments with their key children. They demonstrate how much they value and respect the children. For example, as children confidently self-register, staff ask them how they want to be greeted. Some children choose a hug, a 'high five' or a straightforward hello. This helps staff to identify how children feel and helps to increase children's self-esteem and confidence.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to consistently support children to manage their own feelings and behaviour and to understand how these have an impact on others n consider ways to support staff to help children develop a secure understanding of early mathematical concepts.
- 20 November 2023Good
- 29 November 2022Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Building Blocks Preschool Nurseries Ltd
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.