Teddybears Preschool
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Long established
A pre-school in Hitchin for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 08:00 to 14:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 2016, with 45 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
All children are entitled to 15 hours free pre-school education the term after they turn three years of age. Working parents of children aged 3-4 years may also be entitled to claim an additional 15 hours per week, subject to conditions (known as 30 hours funding). Funding for 2 years olds are also available including the new 2 year funding for working parents for 15 hours, subject to conditions.
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
SG4 0QAWhat 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, 17 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children come in happily and show their enjoyment of being at this welcoming setting. Staff use information gathered on home visits to ensure that children's favourite toys are available. This contributes significantly to helping children settle and they build secure, trusting relationships with staff. Children respond to staff's high expectations and often mirror their positive, supportive approaches. For example, children playing with water encourage others to try putting animals down the water pipes. They show them how to put water down as well, stating 'You try'.
Children persevere at this and celebrate together when they succeed.
Children mirror staff's behaviour and show care and concern for one another. They readily share toys and take care when playing together. For instance, older children help younger ones to get on and off the see-saw. Staff take care to ensure that all areas used by children are safe. They talk with children and help them understand safety issues. For example, children understand how to use the large play equipment safely. Staff support children well in gaining a good understanding of healthy practices. For example, while eating snack, children look at a book about oral hygiene. They discuss this and go on to examine model teeth, cleaning these with toothbrushes.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review daily routines, such as at times of transition, so that all children remain involved and have opportunities to continue their play when appropriate.
- 17 September 2024Good
- 16 October 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Teddybears Preschool
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.