Poppyfields Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Hitchin for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in October 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2007, with 108 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 Central Bedfordshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Central Bedfordshire 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
SG5 4FDWhat 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, 5 October 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are excited and eager to come into nursery. They are enthusiastic and really look forward to meeting staff and friends. From the start of their day, children are so eager to learn through an excellent range of activities, both indoors and outdoors. Children thrive in this setting because they feel safe and secure.
They gain a wealth of skills through meticulously planned activities that continuously challenge their thinking. Staff actively encourage children to investigate and problem solve. For example, children add more powder paint to water if it is too runny, so that they can find the right consistency to print with vegetables.
Children have extensive opportunities to be active learners. They develop their language and vocabulary with support from both the highly skilled staff and their friends. Staff present their favourite stories in exciting and engaging ways. They encourage children to share new learned vocabulary. For example, during song time, children are asked how many speckled frogs there are left. Children recall the word 'zero', which they had learned the previous day.
- 5 October 2021Outstanding
- 25 September 2015Outstanding
- 20 May 2009Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Poppyfields 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.