The House That Jack Built Nursery
Good★ 5.0 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Watford for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2025. Open since 2017, with 42 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
WD25 9XXWhat 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 March 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children of all ages demonstrate that they are happy and settled in this friendly nursery. They are excited to arrive and are greeted warmly by enthusiastic leaders and staff. Babies hold their arms out to their nurturing key staff, smiling at their warm interactions. Older children enthusiastically make their way to their rooms, chatting to staff about the day's activities.
Children are highly confident and engage deeply in numerous age-appropriate activities in this stimulating learning environment. Babies giggle and interact well with adults, passing them toys and engaging them in play. Older children demonstrate pride in their efforts and achievements. Staff provide opportunities for children to show off their talents. For example, children delight at discussing their artwork, which staff display in frames for everyone to see.
Staff support children's transitions through the nursery and beyond well. Processes in place when children move rooms are flexible and support their specific needs.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance methods of coaching and mentoring to support staff to consistently deliver exceptional learning opportunities across all areas of the nursery.
- 18 March 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 17 May 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for The House That Jack Built 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.