Jack in the Box at Nascotwood
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Watford for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in December 2024. Open since 2022, with 30 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
WD17 4YSWhat 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 December 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
As children arrive at the setting, the staff team warmly greets them and supports them to get ready for their day. Children are engrossed in the captivating and challenging activities the staff skilfully plan. Children excitedly access a 'tea shop'
and begin acting out parts of the familiar story they have recently read, making clear links to previous learning. Later, children create 'tigers' with dough using different textured rolling pins. Staff talk to them about the different patterns they can see, investigating which one most looks like a tiger. Staff scaffold this learning exceptionally well and challenge children to count the number of tigers they make.
There is a strong focus on children's emotional well-being. Staff use selfregistration as a way of supporting children to identify how they are feeling from the moment they arrive at the setting. This enables staff to offer them an appropriate level of support and ensure they are ready to learn. Staff have high expectations of children's behaviour and they are wonderful role models for children. Familiar routines, clear language and cues, such as a bell to signal children to stop, followed by verbal instructions, help children to learn how to behave extremely well.
- 5 December 2024Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
Still missing for Jack in the Box at Nascotwood
- 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.