St Mary's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A pre-school in Watford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Open since 2002, 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
WD18 0EGWhat 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, 18 April 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy the time they spend in the pre-school. They arrive happily and are excited to see their friends. The manager and staff welcome families warmly. They chat enthusiastically with them about how they spent the recent holiday, and share information about children's time away from the preschool. Children form close bonds with one another and the nurturing staff. They cuddle up to staff during frequent story sessions and seek them out for emotional support when tired.
Children are learning to become increasingly independent. Staff encourage them to put on their own coats before playing in the garden, and manage hygiene routines with minimal support. Children help themselves to a choice of healthy fruit for their snack. They tidy away cups and plates once they have finished. This prepares children well for the routines of school.
Children demonstrate high levels of confidence in the pre-school. Staff support this by encouraging children to complete age-appropriate tasks throughout the session.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance methods of coaching and mentoring to enable staff to identify ways to improve their practice and deliver consistently high-quality teaching n consistently allow children to develop and use their own ideas in adult-led activities.
- 18 April 2023Good
- 15 September 2017Good
- 12 May 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Mary's Pre-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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.