Howe Dell Day Care
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Hertfordshire for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2023. Open since 2007, with 56 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
AL10 9AHWhat 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, 21 February 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time at this welcoming day care. They form good relationships with the kind and caring staff. Children confidently ask staff for help when they need it. Babies snuggle into staff's laps for reassurance and comfort. This shows children feel safe and secure. Children develop positive friendships with their peers.
This enables children to develop their social skills, which will support their future development and learning. For example, children often engage in role-play games.
They build rockets together and count down from 10. They giggle with delight as they shout 'blast-off!'. This shows children are happy, and as a result, their behaviour is good.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to develop the quality of teaching even more so they are able to enhance the curriculum provided and extend children's learning further.
- 21 February 2023Good
- 26 May 2017Outstanding
- 9 December 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Howe Dell Day Care
- 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.