Toad Hall Nursery Watford
Good★ 3.7 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Watford 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 May 2023. Open since 1992, with 100 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
WD17 4LAWhat 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 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enjoy their time in this welcoming nursery. Sensitive daily routines, such as waking children gently and supporting them to participate in activities, contribute to the warm relationships children build with staff, and help them to feel safe and settled. Children are confident and show high levels of self-esteem, assured that their views are valued. For example, all older children participate in the 'children's forum', where they help make decisions, such as how to participate in World Book Day. Children respond to staff encouragement and support and are confident to try new experiences and join in with discussions.
Children's behaviour is good. Toddlers understand the routine and readily follow instructions. Older children reflect staff's caring attitudes and are kind to one another. Children play well together, building on each other's ideas and negotiating the rules of their games. Children have many opportunities to develop their physical skills. For instance, babies use furniture to pull themselves up to standing.
Older children develop balance and core strength as they climb across ladders balanced on wooden supports. They learn to keep themselves safe as staff encourage them to assess the risks involved. Children learn about differences. For example, they access artefacts and books from around the world.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to further develop their teaching skills and consistently extend children's play and activities, for example through individualising activities further and encouraging children to think critically and solve problems n focus support for parents more precisely, to help them build on their children's learning at home.
- 10 May 2023Good
- 18 August 2017Good
- 26 July 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Toad Hall Nursery Watford
- 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.