Highfield Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Harpenden for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2005, with 40 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
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
AL5 4BXWhat 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, 18 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children quickly develop a real love of learning at this extremely warm, welcoming and homely setting. They know what is coming next and this helps them to feel safe and secure. Children follow the setting's routines instinctively, embracing its values. For example, during morning `devotion time', staff and children enthusiastically sing together. Watching their enjoyment at this special time is a delight. Children feel a very strong sense of belonging and know they are valued.
They are given choices so that they can decide what they would like to sing or read. Staff listen carefully to children, continually immersing them in meaningful conversation. They ask children open-ended questions and allow them the time they need to think and to respond. All children are becoming confident communicators, learning new and exciting words every day.
Staff teach an ambitious and sequential curriculum. Staff know children extremely well. Their accurate assessments of every child's starting points and understanding of what they already know and can do, enables them to skilfully plan and provide activities that continually extend children's learning and challenges their thinking.
- 18 September 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 28 January 2020Outstanding
- 8 October 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Highfield Pre-School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- 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.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.