Leavesden Montessori House
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Watford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2013, with 60 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
WD24 5ELWhat 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, 1 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in this calm, nurturing environment. They are greeted warmly by staff who swiftly engage them in meaningful conversations. For example, some children have returned from holidays abroad. Staff encourage them to talk about their experiences of different countries.
Children demonstrate that they feel safe and secure. They form close bonds with staff, rushing into their arms when they arrive, and cuddling up to them for stories during the day.
Children demonstrate high levels of confidence. They show great determination when exploring the challenging activities, which staff skilfully organise. For example, children choose to arrange flowers into vases. They demonstrate great skill when using scissors to cut the stems, and when pouring water from crockery jugs into glass vases. Children are highly sociable. They engage well with visitors, welcoming them into their play and conversations.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure the manager acts swiftly when addressing concerns about children's development, to allow all children the opportunity to achieve the best possible learning outcomes.
- 1 November 2022Good
- 1 November 2016Outstanding
- 18 September 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Leavesden Montessori House
- 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.