The Crescent Playgroup
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in St Albans for children from birth to 8+, open 09:15 to 14:30, 4 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2024. Open since 1993, with 34 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
AL2 3NFWhat 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 January 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are excited to arrive and settle well at this friendly playgroup. The manager and staff have a nurturing approach and provide an abundance of support. This enables children to feel secure in their new environment. Staff demonstrate a deep understanding of children's early experiences and interests.
They use this knowledge to create a stimulating learning environment that supports the needs of all children who attend. This ensures that children remain deeply engaged in meaningful play throughout their time at the playgroup.
Children form close bonds with each other. Staff make good use of regular group sessions to encourage children to get to know one another and establish friendships. Children are kind and helpful and demonstrate empathy towards others. For example, they hold the hands of their friends to warm them up after playing outdoors.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to establish appropriate and consistent methods in developing children's understanding of the consequences of inappropriate actions.
- 10 January 2024Good
- 21 February 2018Good
- 19 September 2017Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Crescent Playgroup
- 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.