Fleetville Community Playgroup
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in St. Albans for children from birth to 5, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2023. Open since 2005, with 24 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
AL1 4LQWhat 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, 5 October 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff get to know the children very well at this welcoming playgroup. They are thoughtful about how to support children's well-being and development. Staff use the interests of children to engage them in learning. For example, as young children put toys in their mouths, staff consider how they can provide further sensory activities for children to experience. This helps children to notice the world around them. Children make good progress in their learning over time and during sessions attended. Quiet children watch the activities when they first arrive. Staff check in with them regularly to help support their emotional well-being. Children's confidence develops, and they are soon taking part in play.
Staff skilfully help children to make links to their home life, helping them to feel secure. They role play in a toy kitchen setting and pretend to cook, eat and drink.
Children develop their physical skills as they explore what happens to different materials. They pinch and roll play dough to strengthen their finger muscles. They stretch their arms to make marks on a chalkboard with chalk. Staff offer paintbrushes and water, encouraging children to wash away the chalk. Children are able to explain that the drawing has 'disappeared', sparking their imaginations.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to include further opportunities for children to think about a range of possible answers to extend their learning.
- 5 October 2023Good
- 7 December 2017Good
- 8 October 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Fleetville Community Playgroup
- 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.