Squirrels Day Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Hatfield for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in March 2023. Open since 2012, with 50 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
AL10 8ESWhat 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 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children relish their time in this superb learning environment. They are extremely happy and exude self-esteem and confidence. They are excited and eager to show visitors what they are doing. For example, older children draw pictures and are eager to share what they have drawn. Children are highly motivated to learn, and even the youngest children are engaged in the exciting and stimulating activities.
Children learn about healthy foods and the impact on their bodies. Babies are encouraged to smell, taste and name different fruits during snack times. Older children talk about the benefits of eating healthily, during sociable mealtimes.
Children are extremely independent. Babies use spoons to scoop their snack and attempt to peel their own oranges. Older children put on their own shoes and coats before going into the garden.
- 27 March 2023Outstanding
- 25 July 2017Outstanding
- 27 April 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Squirrels 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.