Early Days Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Hitchin for children from birth to 5, open 08:45 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 December 2023. Open since 2015, with 30 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
SG5 2NZWhat 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, 7 December 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive and have immense fun in this safe, highly nurturing and caring preschool. Children are at the heart of everything staff do. Staff carry out home visits and gather information so they can plan for children's learning needs. As a result, children feel safe and secure and form lovely relationships with the staff. Children behave well and have a good attitude to learning. They follow simple instructions and respond positively when staff prepare them for changes in their routine such as tidy-up time. Children call out, 'It's tidy up time'. Staff encourage children to share and take turns and use good manners, such as 'please' and 'thank you'.
Staff plan a broad and stimulating curriculum tailored to meet the needs of all the children. From the moment children arrive, they engage in rich experiences that are carefully planned to inspire them to become active learners. Children have a
'can do' attitude' as they explore an Antarctic theme in the tray with ice and toy animals, such as penguins and seals. Staff engage children in meaningful conversations that ignite their curiosity. They ask questions, such as 'What other animals live in the Antarctic?' Children say, 'Polar bears'. Staff ask 'What happens to ice when it melts?' Children share their thoughts and say, 'Water'.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to implement the mathematical curriculum consistently to enhance children's knowledge and skills further.
- 7 December 2023Good
- 26 February 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Early Days Pre-School
- 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.