Margaret Lloyd Playgroup
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Hemel Hempstead for from 2 years up to school age, open sessions in term time, often mornings. £7.00 a session for 2 year olds, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2022. Open since 1992, with 31 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
| Age | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 year olds2y to 3y | £7.00The fees for this | |
| All ages | £7.00Any others required |
Where this came from
The outlined line is the one the price was taken from.
Funded hours
15 hours of free childcare in the term after their 3rd birthday; some two year olds can access free funding depending on their circumstances.
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 6NGWhat 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, 7 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy as they separate from their parents and are welcomed into this warm and friendly setting. They quickly follow the routine and sit down on their mats, ready for their carpet time. They benefit from warm interactions from nurturing, familiar staff and they demonstrate close attachments. As a result, children are confident. For example, they speak to visitors about what they are doing and are eager to involve staff in their play.
Children demonstrate a positive attitude towards learning, as they become fully engrossed in activities. For example, they hurry to tables with games that they have chosen. They choose their resources and begin to talk about taking turns with a staff member. This helps to promote their sharing and turn-taking skills.
Staff offer strong and consistent support to develop children's speech and communication skills. They model language and use actions and signs to reinforce their messages, and ensure that children understand. Children listen well and are keen to learn. They proudly give answers about the day of the week and tell staff what shapes they can see on a board. They enjoy songs and eagerly join in with action rhymes in the soft playroom.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- make the most of opportunities to encourage children to do things for themselves and develop their independence further.
- 7 December 2022Good
- 7 March 2017Good
- 23 September 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Margaret Lloyd Playgroup
- 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.
- Is £7.00 a session still the rate? 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.