Hartwell Nursery & Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Northampton for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2001, 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 West Northamptonshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in West Northamptonshire 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
NN7 2HLWhat 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.
- 18 August 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 11 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children and parents/carers warmly as they arrive. They recognise some children need more support to separate from their parents, and invite into the preschool for a short time. Staff help children to settle by reading them a story.
Children's emotional well-being is well supported.
Staff provide vast opportunities for children to be outside in the fresh air and develop their physical skills. Children excitedly tell visitors to the pre-school that they are going on a minibus to visit the local forest with friends from a neighbouring pre-school. They share that they will spend the whole day outdoors and have their lunch sitting under the trees. At pre-school, children learn to negotiate space and race on tracks on pedal bicycles and cross the wobbly bridge on the climbing frame. Staff supervise children very well as they take managed risks, stepping in if children need guidance or support.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- provide consistent support for children to develop their communication and language by always using the correct pronunciation of words n improve staff understanding of how to support children's mathematical knowledge of more complex shapes.
- 11 July 2023Good
- 2 February 2023Inadequate
- 25 April 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Hartwell Nursery & Preschool
- 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.