The Hamlet Centre Children's Service
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Norwich for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2011, with 16 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 Norfolk
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Norfolk 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
NR2 1SJWhat 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, 18 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children, all of whom have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), really enjoy coming to this pre-school. They arrive with smiles on their faces as they are greeted at the door by kind and caring staff. Children, many of whom are new to the pre-school, confidently separate from their parents and settle.
There is an effective key-person system in place. The key person builds strong relationships with the children, and their families, from the very beginning. The pre-school offers home visits for families before their children start, where they gain a wealth of information about the children. Staff use this knowledge to ensure children's needs, some of which may be medical, are carefully considered. There is a wealth of resources to capture the interests of the children and support their learning. The knowledgeable staff have high expectations for children. Children are supported to be physically active as they explore a variety of activities to develop their large muscles and build strength. They have opportunities to use energy in the soft-play room or have a quieter time in the calming sensory room, both of which are purpose provided.
Staff are good role models and encourage children to be kind and respectful of each other and the environment. Staff are calm and consistent, when supporting children's behaviour, and helping children to recognise their own emotions. Staff provide children with simple strategies and resources, such as a familiar, safe cosy space, so that they can have time and space to self-regulate.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- implement plans to enhance staff supervision arrangements and embed, and further strengthen, the recently revised curriculum n engage even more closely with parents, in order to promote healthier eating practices at lunchtimes for all children.
- 18 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 6 June 2025Inadequate
- 20 September 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Hamlet Centre Children's Service
- 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.