Opening hours
Nursery School: 08:30 - 11:30 or 12:30 - 15:30 (term time); Day Care: 07:30 - 18:00 Monday to Friday (51 weeks)
Batford Day Care
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Aug 2025)
Number of places
63 places
Age range
0–3 yrs
Last inspected
Aug 2025
Local authority
Hertfordshire
About this day nursery
Batford Nursery School and Day Care provides a nurturing and stimulating environment for children ranging from 6 weeks to 5 years old. Comprising both a local authority maintained nursery school and a privately owned day care facility, it is dedicated to fostering excellent relationships with parents while laying fundamental groundwork for lifelong learning.
The nursery school offers government-funded early education for 3 to 5-year-olds during term time, with flexible options for eligible families to access extended hours. Additionally, the day care component caters to infants and toddlers from 6 weeks up to 3 years, operating nearly year-round.
This combined approach ensures comprehensive childcare and early education, focused on developing children's skills and confidence for their future educational journeys. While dedicated photo galleries aren't available on the website, the nursery actively updates its social media with current activities, encouraging community engagement.
What it's like
Children flourish in this nurturing, safe environment. They are extremely well settled and happy and are highly engaged, focused and involved in all areas of learning from a young age. The excellent staff are attentive to children's individual needs, ensuring they are supported exceptionally well and make rapid progress. The setting's unique support programme ensures all children make the best possible progress.
Local Authority Maintained Nursery SchoolDay Care for 0-3sHoliday ClubFlexible Hours
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Request pricing →Key facts
Age range
6 weeks to 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2005
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Batford Day Care
Last inspected 27 August 2025
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
Children flourish in this nurturing, safe environment. They are extremely well settled and happy and are highly engaged, focused and involved in all areas of learning from a young age. The excellent staff are attentive to children's individual needs, ensuring they are supported exceptionally well and make rapid progress. The setting's unique support programme ensures all children make the best possible progress.
Inspector highlights
- Children flourish in a nurturing and safe environment and make rapid progress.
- Children's behaviour is exemplary, and they learn to be kind and respectful.
- An outstanding, clearly sequenced curriculum provides an inspiring environment both inside and outside.
- Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive excellent support through training and a highly successful nurture group.
- Leaders and managers are inspirational, highly reflective, and proactive in ensuring all children receive the best possible care and experiences.
Inspection #10407607 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents share positive feedback, praising the leadership and staff team.
They comment on the nurturing environment and how quickly children settle in with the caring staff.
Parents feel that the outside area is exceptional, and the amount of time children spend outside effectively supports the children's physical experiences.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive excellent support. Staff undertake training to help them develop their knowledge and understanding of ways to support children with SEND. A highly successful nurture group has been established, providing children with focused and targeted learning opportunities that enable them to make excellent progress.
Outdoor space
The setting is well-resourced and provides an inspiring environment both inside and outside. Children explore the outside mud kitchen and tend to the vegetable garden skilfully.
Parent Reviews of Batford Day Care
5.0
(6)
Sarah Manning
4 years ago
Both of our Son's attended Batford Nursery School and we couldn't recommend the nursery enough to other parents. The outstanding nursery education that is offered at Batford by their amazing teaching team is excellent. Both of our Son's loved their time at Batford and have fond memories of all the great experiences there. The facilities are fantastic for children, especially the beautiful outdoor garden space. A truly amazing early years experience for any child !
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caroline borrell
4 years ago
Batford Nursery is an amazing place for children to learn, grow and thrive. My children all came here and had a great time, & left more than prepared for reception & their primary school journey. The outside space is incredible, & the activities that are available to the children are wide ranging, imaginative, educational & fun! Staff are nurturing, kind & experienced. It has been rated outstanding by ofsted 4 times. It also has the added bonus of having excellent day care facilities on site too. Highly recommend, fabulous place.
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Laura Phelps
4 years ago
A fabulous, outstanding nursery with a vibrant, happy atmosphere. Staff are friendly and approachable, they really get to know the children as individuals and support them to make progress. Batford offers a great range of activities and experiences for the children, making full use of their amazing outdoor space all year round. We are thrilled that we chose Batford and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to other parents.
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julia Twelftree
5 years ago
Batford Nursery School is 3 x rated Outstanding from Ofsted. It is a teacher led setting that prepares children brilliantly for primary school. It is a place where children thrive, learn and interact through play. The staff are amazing and dedicated to help children develop their skills and introduce them to new experiences. The outdoors area is vast, and full of interesting things to do. They include Forest School which is a lovely way to learn and they enjoy Yoga. The nursery encourages parents to learn with children therefore understanding the importance of their early years experience. Batford Nursery interacts with all local primary and secondary schools and they share experiences and best practice. My children are now grown up but they love to look back at their journals and remember the innocent happy times they had there.
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Gemma and Ryan
4 years ago
I can't speak highly enough of Batford Nursery School. An exceptionally professional, experienced and diligent team. Their care, support and creative approach to the children in their care was fantastic. Nurturing these children is front and centre in all that they do. Facilities are also second to none. My boys were so happy and supported there. I just wish we'd known about it when we moved to the area with my oldest.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Batford Day Care. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2025
Date: March 2009
- August 2025Outstanding
- January 2020Good
- May 2016Outstanding
- March 2009Outstanding
Frequently asked about Batford Day Care
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