Highfield Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Ware for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2022. Open since 2003, with 38 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
SG11 2PBWhat 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 April 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and confident in this lively nursery. Staff demonstrate an extremely caring nature towards the children. Babies are comforted as they transition to and from naps. They snuggle in to read books with staff, developing an early interest in literacy. They confidently explore their surroundings under the watchful eye of staff as they play with sand, squishing it in their hands.
The outside area provides an exceptional learning environment. Children are curious and highly motivated to investigate. They can choose from a wide range of high-quality resources. Small children delight as they navigate crawling over large tyres with determination. Older children dig and jump in the mud area. They gather round together as they look at what they have found in the mud. Children role play in the purpose built fire engine as staff help them put the pretend fire out.
Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour as they act as positive role models. As a result, children are kind and caring towards each other. Children form strong friendships and enjoy playing together. They play together in the home corner, taking turns to look after babies and deciding what they are going to feed them.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop the programme of professional development to help all staff have an even broader knowledge of their roles and responsibilities n support staff to help children to become more deeply engaged in their play and sustain high levels of concentration during indoor play.
- 7 April 2022Good
- 26 August 2016Good
- 25 September 2012Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Highfield Day Nursery
- 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.