St Augustine's Under 5's
OutstandingBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Hoddesdon for children from birth to 5, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 February 2025. Open since 2022, with 36 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
EN11 8DRWhat 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, 28 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Leaders and staff warmly welcome children into this nurturing pre-school. They pay detailed attention to children, so they have the best start in life. Children feel safe and secure as a result of a highly effective key-person approach. Leaders and staff skilfully respond to children's individual needs. Children have an excellent understanding of hygiene practices. When engaging in self-care routines, children show the importance of washing their hands to eliminate 'germs' and how to dispose of tissues correctly. As a result, children make incredible progress through highly effective teaching.
Leaders and staff work together to plan a well-sequenced curriculum for all children and their individual needs. They act as positive and nurturing role models, so children understand their emotions. For example, staff prioritise meaningful and calm conversations with children to help them regulate their feelings. As a result, staff value children's voices and consider their input.
Children show high levels of care and attention. They show a deep understanding of what babies need and demonstrate this with increasing confidence. For instance, children prepare the baby dolls by changing their nappies and clothing them to keep them 'clean' and 'warm'. This level of care and attention enriches children's experience further.
- 28 February 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
Still missing for St Augustine's Under 5's
- 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.