Food
Freshly prepared well-balanced meals and snacks are included in the fees. Formula milk, nappies, nappy cream, and baby wipes are also included for an all-inclusive service, or parents can opt out and provide their own.
Grasshoppers Day Nursery (St Albans)
Ofsted: Outstanding
(Feb 2024)
Number of places
64 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2024
Local authority
Hertfordshire
About this day nursery
Grasshoppers Day Nursery in St Albans provides comprehensive care and education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, operating from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery offers an inclusive service where children's individual needs and interests are fostered within a warm and welcoming setting.
Their daily activities are designed in accordance with EYFS principles and delivered by highly trained staff. Emphasising outdoor play, children have daily access to the garden, which is seen as crucial for their learning and development, including exploration of the natural world in their mud kitchen and local community walks.
The nursery is committed to sustainability, holding a Green Flag Award as an eco-nursery, and incorporates environmental education through recycling, growing vegetables, and nature exploration. Extracurricular activities such as Yoga Mites and Boogie Mites are also offered.
The fees cover all consumables, including formula milk, nappies, wipes, freshly prepared meals and snacks, and all activities. Parents also benefit from exclusive access to the Childbase@home website and app, which provides resources like bespoke books, online experiences, and parent workshops on various topics.
Our ethos
Grasshoppers Day Nursery follows the EYFS principles, fostering children's individual needs and interests within a warm and welcoming setting. They emphasise outdoor play and practical environmental education, holding a Green Flag Award as an eco-nursery.
What it's like
The manager supports her staff to implement a curriculum that focuses on individual children, which is planned, sequenced and securely embedded across all areas of learning. Children thrive in this welcoming, highly motivating and inclusive environment, developing extremely positive attitudes to their play and learning. Staff are warm and friendly, greeting children on arrival and showing genuine interest in what children want to tell them, which helps children feel particularly secure.
Eco-nursery with Green Flag AwardEYFS-aligned curriculumInclusive service with all consumablesFocus on outdoor playParent support resources
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-oldsTax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Opening hours
7:30 am to 6:30 pm Monday to Friday, excluding inset days and public holidays
Age range
6 weeks to 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2013
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Grasshoppers Day Nursery (St Albans)
Last inspected 6 February 2024 · Jo Rowley
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
What it's like to attend
The manager supports her staff to implement a curriculum that focuses on individual children, which is planned, sequenced and securely embedded across all areas of learning. Children thrive in this welcoming, highly motivating and inclusive environment, developing extremely positive attitudes to their play and learning. Staff are warm and friendly, greeting children on arrival and showing genuine interest in what children want to tell them, which helps children feel particularly secure.
Inspector highlights
- The manager supports her staff to implement a curriculum that focuses on individual children.
- Staff's quality of teaching is exemplary across the whole team.
- Children's personal, social and emotional development is excellent.
- The manager leads the staff team exceptionally well.
- Opportunities for children to learn outdoors are extremely good.
Inspection #10326218 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The manager and her staff are committed to ensuring that all children attending, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are provided with the best possible care and education to secure future success. Parents have excellent opportunities to work with their key person, including regular face-to-face and online meetings to talk about their children's progress and achievements.
Outdoor space
Opportunities for children to learn outdoors are extremely good. With the exception of young babies, who enjoy daily opportunities for fresh air and exercise, children make choices to play inside or out. They explore a superb range of resources, which enhances their physical development.
Parent Reviews of Grasshoppers Day Nursery (St Albans)
5.0
(2)
Clare Smith
2 years ago
A brilliant nursery with kind, friendly and well trained staff who always have the time to talk to you about your child’s day at pick up/drop off or any other time. My daughter has been going since she was 1 and she loves it, she learns so much and I am always amazed when she comes home with new makaton words and knowing all the words to nursery rhymes. They make sure to always have a variety of activities and keep us updated with photos through the app which I love. I am very happy my daughter spends her days here while myself and my husband are at work.
Read on Google
Tim Hollis
2 years ago
A really well run nursery with confident, well trained and friendly staff. The umbrella company Child base has a wealth of information on their website and clearly educate the staff and encourage a high level of childcare. A great location with easy parking, right next to Clarence Park. Our child transitioned in very easily and has been very well supported throughout
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Grasshoppers Day Nursery (St Albans). See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2013
- February 2024Outstanding
- April 2018Outstanding
- July 2013Good
Frequently asked about Grasshoppers Day Nursery (St Albans)
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