Sunhill Montessori Nursery
Good★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Berkhamsted for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 1998, with 102 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
HP4 3GYWhat 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, 22 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children at the nursery are happy, settled and confident. Babies lead their own play, with staff support. For example, they explore a sensory paint activity at the table and poke holes in clingfilm to feel different textures. Older children enjoy creating structures using wooden blocks. They look at an instruction book for reference as they make their creations, showing adults what they have made.
Children of all ages are extremely confident. They hand toys to visitors and proudly show them what they are playing with. Children speak about their interests, and staff listen attentively to what they are talking about. For example, older children discuss whether farm animals live on the moon. They laugh as they explore the idea with an adult.
Children come together to play in the outside area. Each age group has access to different areas, with different activities to take part in. Children choose which activities they want to engage in, such as drawing, splashing in muddy puddles, and manoeuvring ride-on toys. Younger children climb in and out of a ball pit, developing their muscle strength. Older children pretend to 'cook' different foods and serve them to their friends. Overall, children make good progress in their learning and development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and improve the preparation of routine activities to avoid delays and enable staff to spend more focused time with the children.
- 22 November 2022Good
- 10 January 2017Good
- 22 April 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sunhill Montessori 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.