St Michael's Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Watford for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2021. Open since 2017, with 30 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
WD25 0NEWhat 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, 8 December 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children all settle very well and show that they feel happy and secure in the inviting pre-school. They explore a broad range of activities that covers all areas of learning, and they access much of the provision independently. Staff support children closely to help them to make good progress and to build on what they already know and can do. For example, children move from following staff demonstrations to following spoken instructions as they roll, press and shape dough.
Children independently access books and develop a love of reading. They confidently show their favourite books to adults and help retell the story or explore the pages. Children trace their fingers around tactile books and close the book with a snap, announcing 'stop'. Children tip and pour rice with jugs and scoops, using these skills to develop their hand control. They readily use pens and other materials to make marks on boards, paper and to trace shapes in the tray of rice.
They speak to staff and their friends about the marks they have made. Children take pride in their environment and clear up their toys when they have finished.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- help staff to be clear about the intent of all activities, especially small-group activities, to shape these more to the needs of the individual children present n consider the organisation of transition times between one activity and the next, to help meet the needs of the diverse age range of children present.
- 8 December 2021Good
- 10 June 2021Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for St Michael'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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.