Sunflowers Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Bishop'S Stortford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in June 2025. 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
CM23 3NHWhat 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, 10 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, secure and settled in this welcoming environment. Staff know the children well and demonstrate good knowledge and understanding of the intent of their curriculum. They know exactly what progress children have made and what they will be working on next to prepare them for the next stage. Staff focus on quality interactions to enhance children's progress. They consistently follow a childled approach, adapting and moving children's learning on in the moment. They plan from children's interest to ensure activities are always motivating and engaging. For example, children's current interests in construction work in the local community has inspired a creative and exciting building area, where children use their own ideas, select tools and materials they need and mix their own sand and cement.
Staff ensure children feel valued and have a sense of belonging at this pre-school.
They take time to ask children their views and opinions and always give children time to think and respond. They encourage children to make their own choices and give them emotional vocabulary and understanding to support their feelings and self-regulation. Children enjoy using the 'colour-me-happy house' to explain what colour their feelings are each day. Staff praise and celebrate children's achievements. For example, they display children's work proudly, including their models and pictures. Staff capture each child's voice and ensure the pre-school reflects the children's ideas. They recently created their own measure for their preschool sunflower. All children are involved and excited to observe its growth and plot its progress.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the approach of teaching about healthy lifestyles, and embed more consistent opportunities for physical development and healthy eating into the curriculum and daily routines.
- 10 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 10 September 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sunflowers 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.