Lime Grove Day Nursery
Outstanding★ 4.7 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Hemel Hempstead for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 1992, with 102 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
HP1 1JTWhat 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, 27 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Throughout their time at this nursery, children remain deeply engaged in a wealth of wonderful learning opportunities. Leaders and staff seize every opportunity to build on children's current interests during the day. For example, pre-school children choose to write party invitations to their friends. Staff are swift to extend their learning further. They encourage children to make their own modelling dough, so they can create and decorate cakes for their party.
Leaders and staff work hard to establish a highly effective key-person system. This enables children to form exceptionally close bonds with staff, who demonstrate a deep understanding of their individual needs. For example, babies settle swiftly for naps during the day. This is because nurturing staff make every effort to mirror babies' routines from home. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities benefit from highly experienced and knowledgeable support. Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of children's specific needs. They adapt the environment where appropriate and provide precise care and teaching. This supports all children to make excellent progress from their starting points.
Children of all ages form close friendships and are highly respectful of one another.
- 27 September 2024Outstanding
- 8 November 2018Outstanding
- 10 December 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lime Grove 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.