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Hertford Barns Day Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Nov 2023)
·
4.6(10 parent reviews)
·Munns Farm, Cole Green, HERTFORD, SG14 2NL · Hertfordshire
Number of places
86 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2023
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Hertford Barns Day Nursery, nestled in the tranquil Hertfordshire countryside near Hertford, Hatfield, and Welwyn Garden City, provides exceptional care and education for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. This purpose-built facility, created from a historic barn and stable block, offers a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The nursery prioritises each child's individual needs, fostering their interests within a calm and secure environment that boasts ample green space. Daily outdoor access to age-appropriate gardens is a cornerstone of their approach, recognising the significant impact of nature on a child's development.

The curriculum is meticulously designed in alignment with EYFS principles, delivered by a team of highly trained and knowledgeable staff. As an eco-nursery holding a Green Flag Award, Hertford Barns is dedicated to sustainability and environmental education, engaging children in year-round green activities such as recycling, gardening, and nature exploration.

The nursery operates from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and inset days, and provides a fully inclusive service covering all meals, snacks, formula milk, nappies, wipes, and sun cream, along with a variety of activities including Sing and Sign and Boogie Mites sessions. Parents also gain access to the exclusive "childbase@home" website and app, offering valuable resources and workshops.

Our ethos

Hertford Barns Day Nursery is committed to sustainability and environmental education, holding a Green Flag Award and engaging children in year-round green activities. Their curriculum aligns with EYFS principles and includes daily outdoor access to gardens, recognising the impact of nature on child development.

What it's like

Staff place children's needs at the centre of everything they do. Children demonstrate exceptional confidence, curiosity, and keenness to learn. The nurturing staff team plan and deliver a broad range of exciting and challenging experiences, which supports the children to thrive during their time at the nursery.

Eco-nursery with Green Flag AwardHistoric barn conversionFully inclusive serviceStrong parent partnershipEYFS-aligned curriculum

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)Tax-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

Age range

6 weeks to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Session types

full day

Food

All meals and snacks included

Waitlist

Join the waiting list

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Hertford Barns Day Nursery

Last inspected 30 November 2023 · Elke Rockey

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Staff place children's needs at the centre of everything they do. Children demonstrate exceptional confidence, curiosity, and keenness to learn. The nurturing staff team plan and deliver a broad range of exciting and challenging experiences, which supports the children to thrive during their time at the nursery.

Inspector highlights

  • The dedicated manager works tirelessly to motivate the nursery team to ensure that children have the positive experience they deserve in their early years.
  • The manager and staff have extensive knowledge of the curriculum and how children learn.
  • Staff give the highest priority to developing children's communication and language skills.
  • Staff expertly support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
  • Children become highly independent from a young age.
Inspection #10295747 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff expertly support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Together with parents, they formulate and review detailed plans. This results in children receiving swift support from other professionals. Staff work diligently to ensure that this group of children make the best possible progress from their starting points.

Outdoor space

The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Parent Reviews of Hertford Barns Day Nursery

4.6
(10)
Lenka Majer
7 months ago

The staff were really great with my son. Patient and helpful. He is bilingual and took him long time adjusting. But he loved it there and staff as well. Preschool class. Thank you very much. I do recommend this nursery.

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Dave Newton
7 months ago

The staff are really caring and the environment is lovely. The team think up new games and learning opportunities for the little people every day. The kids get to feed sheep and ducks, discover nature, do kids yoga, see a fire engine...and some many other things, I think they keep them really well stimulated

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Ella Abangma
2 years ago

Our daughter really enjoyed her time at Hertford Barns. She was at this nursery for almost 3 years. The carers are great and friendly. The facilities provided are second to none. My favourite part about the nursery is the vast outdoor areas that the children can enjoy throughout the year. No other nurseries in the area provide that.

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Caroline Beard
3 years ago

What an incredible nursery. Both my children are currently at Hertford Barns and as our eldest prepares for her last day and starting big school she couldn’t be more ready! The staff are so caring, so attentive and helpful to parents too. We have the perfect balance with the feel of a small family run nursery (it honestly does feel like a family!) and the benefits and flexibility generally only offered by a larger corporate. Our youngest has a long list of food allergies and the nursery have dealt with this with true professionalism and without batting an eye. It is such a relief! I can’t recommend them enough.

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Bradley Impey
4 years ago

Unfortunately I've lost all faith in this nursery, I do not even know where to start. My son (10 months old) is still there as we do not want to upset his development, although I do not see him still being there before the end of 2021. We have been lied to on 4 separate occasions by a member of staff with regards to my son's safety, well being and his routine. This member of staff was also in management with the previous poor Ofsted reports, we bought these instances to management who (in my opinion) do not care about anything other than Childbase making money and sweeping things under the carpet. The most recent meeting we have had with management when we were lied to again was actually laughable, the audacity of the blame then being laid at mine and my wife's door was very surprising and distressing. I suffer with a mental disability and this was used as one of the main reasons why we were to blame for the staff lying to us, I was accused of being "Intimidating" & "Aggressive" because I asked the staff a question (shocking I know). Being lied to about taking my son being out in the torrential rain, to his naps and food not being recorded on a daily basis is all that we know of. They are so bad at following my son's routine we had to pay a private consultant to have it changed to the nursery's routine, and guess what, they cannot even follow that!!! We are still to this day waiting for a proper induction with the nursery (which we have requested 3 times), their policies have still not been given to us either. The only thing they seem to respond is when you threaten to not pay the bill, then they seem to spring to life and offer every lip service available and assurances that the standards will rise. 5 months in and still no standards have risen, if anything they have fallen. The more I think about it, the more laughable it is. How Ofsted have not been involved again with this nursery is a little surprising for me. I would not recommend this nursery to my worst enemy and cannot wait to take my son out of there. This may seem extreme but I could NOT recommend this nursery at any level.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Hertford Barns Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

30 November 2023

Outstanding

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more