University Day Nursery
Good★ 4.8 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Hatfield for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022. Open since 2008, with 62 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
AL10 9ABWhat 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, 26 October 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff provide a caring and nurturing environment for children at this nursery.
Children enjoy warm, positive relationships with the adults who care for them. This helps children to be emotionally secure. Children are extremely well behaved. Staff are good role models for the children and have high expectations for their behaviour.
Children enjoy accessing a wide range of resources which reflect their own interests and ideas. They eagerly join in with a 'rhythm stick' session they have chosen. Children show positive attitudes to their learning as they listen to instructions and tap the sticks together. They are mindful of their peers as they make sure everyone has a set of rhythm sticks so they can join in.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review and develop the facilities in the outdoor areas for babies to have goodquality experiences outside throughout the year n develop supervision sessions further to provide consistent support to staff and reflect even more on the quality of practice.
- 26 October 2022Good
- 14 February 2017Good
- 4 September 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for University Day 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.