Little Oaks Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Hemel Hempstead for babies from 6 months up to school age, open 08:00 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 2009, with 32 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
2 and 3 year, 30 hours, childcare vouchers and other Government schemes.
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
HP2 4EWWhat 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, 24 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and settled at the pre-school. Staff support children to settle in quickly when they start. They speak confidently about the children and know how to comfort them. Babies build strong bonds with their key person, turning to them for reassurance as they explore the dedicated baby area.
Staff support children to be physically active. Children confidently climb on the play equipment and slide down the slide in the outdoor area. Staff lead music and dance sessions with great enthusiasm. This passion spreads to the children, who excitedly join in and follow the instructions and guidance staff provide them. These experiences help children to build the larger muscles in their bodies and strengthen their coordination.
Staff consider the layout of the rooms carefully to support children's independent learning. Children respond by confidently selecting things to play with themselves.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to provide consistent opportunities for younger children to build on their social skills and share their own knowledge and experiences with others.
- 24 January 2024Good
- 31 January 2018Good
- 7 February 2017Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Oaks Pre-School
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.