Maria Montessori Nursery School
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Berkhamsted for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 2022, with 24 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
HP4 1FQWhat 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 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Meaningful bonds quickly form between children and staff at this friendly and welcoming nursery. The key-person system is securely implemented, and effective systems are in place for all staff to know what children are working towards. Staff communicate highly effectively with one another to meet children's needs. Babies turn to their key person for comfort and reassurance when needed. Older children confidently speak to visiting adults, sharing their ideas and experiences with them freely.
Opportunities for children to learn outdoors are strong. Despite having no dedicated outdoor space, children benefit from a wide range of daily opportunities to explore the local community. Children fully understand the expectations when they are out, walking carefully together and listening to instructions as they go.
Staff allow children time to explore, and they speak to the children about the world around them. For instance, they explain to children about the daisies in the shade being closed and those in the sun being open. Children look at the plants closely with great interest. These exciting opportunities help children to learn through a range of first-hand experiences.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to consistently provide challenging learning opportunities to help children make the best possible progress.
- 1 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
Still missing for Maria Montessori Nursery School
- 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.