Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin
Good★ 4.3 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Hitchin for children from birth to 8+, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2002, with 127 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
SG5 1RTWhat 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, 31 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children warmly as they arrive, helping them to separate from their parents and carers well. Staff implement an ambitious curriculum that is embedded well throughout the nursery. Activities are thoughtfully planned to extend children's curiosity and sequence their learning. For example, children become engrossed in making 'Gruffalo crumble'. They use spoons to scoop up various elements, such as soil, flowers and foam and mix them together. This is extended to a 'Gruffalo hunt'
in the garden that encourages movement and storytelling. Children show positive attitudes towards their learning, helping them to make good progress in their development.
Staff value children's voices and implement a number of strategies for children to express their views and opinions. For example, children are encouraged to take on leadership roles, such as eco-warriors and become student council members, where they can share their views and make decisions. These roles involve responsibilities, such as litter picking and health and safety walks, teaching children about environmental care and risk assessment. Staff act as positive role models and set out clear expectations which encourages children to behave well. They help children to learn routines and effectively manage transitions, fully supporting the well-being of children.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to provide consistent opportunities for children to be able to extend their learning and development even further.
- 31 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 7 February 2019Good
- 13 August 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin
- 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.