The Manor Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Aldenham for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2024. Open since 1990, with 15 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 8EZWhat 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, 5 September 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children develop a deep sense of belonging and settle swiftly in this engaging learning environment. They become absorbed in the many learning opportunities that staff plan around this unique community. For example, children are eager to feed the cows that live in the neighbouring building. They enjoy learning about the various crops that grow and how they are used within the community.
Staff provide opportunities for children to show off their talents and celebrate what makes them unique. They use circle time to encourage children to sing songs and demonstrate their dancing. Their friends listen intently and offer praise and applause. As a result, children are confident and outgoing even in new situations.
Staff support children's understanding of acceptable and kind behaviour in ageappropriate ways. They encourage children to take turns and explore the impact not sharing resources may have on their friends. Children are observed using these strategies independently in their play. They organise group games such as skittles and play cooperatively with one another. These skills prepare children well for the next stage of learning.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise spontaneous opportunities to enrich and build on children's learning.
- 5 September 2024Good
- 27 September 2018Outstanding
- 13 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Manor Pre-School
- 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.