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Kindred Wheathampstead

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2024)
·
5.0(8 parent reviews) ·4 Meads Lane, Wheathampstead, ST. ALBANS, AL4 8BW · Hertfordshire
Number of places
65 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2024
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Kindred Wheathampstead Nursery and Pre-School is dedicated to providing an enriching environment where children aged 3 months to 5 years can thrive. With a strong emphasis on outdoor exploration, the nursery boasts a large garden equipped with a mud kitchen, sandpits, and various play resources, encouraging daily engagement with nature.

Situated near horse fields and a river, regular community walks foster a sense of connection to the local environment and build confidence in children. The nursery prides itself on establishing robust home-nursery partnerships, providing learning bags filled with activities that complement the child's experiences at the nursery, ensuring parents are actively involved in their child's educational journey.

Open 51 weeks a year from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm, Kindred Wheathampstead also offers a nutritionally accredited menu with home-cooked meals prepared daily by an on-site chef, and provides a private car park for convenient drop-off and pick-up. The team is passionate about early years education, fostering a nurturing family-feel environment and adhering to, and often exceeding, UK staff-to-child ratio regulations to guarantee individual support and supervision.

Our ethos

Kindred Wheathampstead focuses on outdoor exploration and connection with nature, utilising its garden and surrounding environment for daily activities. They prioritise strong partnerships with parents, involving them in their child's learning through resources like activity bags, and aim to create a nurturing, family-like atmosphere with a passion for early years education.

What it's like

Leaders and staff warmly welcome children on their arrival. Successful settling-in procedures support all children to build a sense of belonging and enable them to quickly build attachments with their designated key person. Children become engaged in their play, explore the environment and demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning.

Outdoor-focused playStrong home-nursery linksNutritionally accredited foodPrivate parking

Pricing & funding

Fees are billed monthly for full-time and part-time schedules, including full days (either 07:45 to 18:00 or 08:00 to 18:00) and half days (08:00 to 13:00 or 13:00 to 18:00). Multiple monthly fee structures are offered, alongside age-banded monthly consumables charges covering food, non-food, and activities.

Funding accepted

30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare

Good to know

  • Monthly consumables charges apply for food, non-food items, and activities, varying by age group.
  • Offers full-day sessions (07:45-18:00 or 08:00-18:00) and half-day sessions (08:00-13:00 or 13:00-18:00).
  • Stated rates are for full-time places; contact the manager for full availability of other sessions.
  • Fees are billed monthly.

Key facts

Food

Fresh meals from our accredited menu prepared daily by our on-site chef.

Opening hours

07:45 - 18:00, 51 weeks of the year

Age range

3 Months up to 5 Years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2015

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Kindred Wheathampstead

Last inspected 7 November 2024

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

What it's like to attend

Leaders and staff warmly welcome children on their arrival. Successful settling-in procedures support all children to build a sense of belonging and enable them to quickly build attachments with their designated key person. Children become engaged in their play, explore the environment and demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders and staff are committed to providing good quality childcare with a strong team ethos, supporting staff well-being and offering training opportunities.
  • Children form close bonds with staff, feel safe and secure, and develop self-care skills, enjoying nutritious meals and snacks.
  • Leaders and staff prioritise independence, curiosity, and outdoor learning, using ongoing observations to plan for children's next steps.
  • Children thoroughly enjoy time outside, taking managed risks, practicing new skills, and learning about planting and growth.
  • Staff effectively support children's communication and literacy skills through various activities and re-enacting stories and songs.

Areas to develop

  • 1improve the consistency of teaching to ensure all staff extend children's learning during planned and spontaneous activities
  • 2review the organisation of routines to better support children's individual needs and learning outcomes.
Inspection #10360015 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff work closely with external professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. They use pictorial prompt cards to aid children's communication and help them understand routines throughout the day.

Outdoor space

Children thoroughly enjoy their time outside. Staff support older children to take managed risks in their play as they practise new skills, such as balancing on the wooden balance ladder and climbing on the apparatus. Older children are supported to practise their pedalling skills as they learn to manoeuvre wheeled toys.

Parent Reviews of Kindred Wheathampstead

5.0
(8)
Laura Wilson
2 years ago

Love, love, love! The team at Kindred Wheathampstead are amazing. They're very friendly and everyone greets you with enthusiasm. My little girl started when she was 1 year old. She hated being dropped off at first but after just a few weeks she soon started throwing herself at the staff with a beaming smile as she's so excited to be there! She's developed so much with them in such a short time, it's lovely to see. She's becoming more and more confident (and sassier if that was even possible haha!). We're kept updated with some of the activities they do and can see how much fun she's having. She doesn't always want to come home! I don't have any anxiety about leaving her whilst I'm at work as I know she's in safe hands there. The management are also very hands-on which is refreshing and they're more than happy to help where they can. Really can't fault them.

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Jessica Hayes - Harpenden
2 years ago

The most nurturing and committed team who put the happiness and growth of each individual child at the heart of what they do. Every staff member goes above and beyond to make you feel welcome. From the very start of my daughters journey at 9 months of age all the way through to now she has had the very best care. A team of Wonder Woman who I couldn’t recommend highly enough. Thank you for all you do.

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Anna Ventris
2 years ago

I don’t even know how to express the gratitude that I have for the team at Kindred Wheathampstead. The team have always gone above and beyond to not only help my boys to settle, but to thrive in their care. Their approach is completely tailored to each individual child, and they really listen with interest to us as their parents. The amount of outdoor space is amazing and I love that my boys are outside as much as possible. It’s such a relief to go to work without having to worry about either of them, as I know they’re in safe and loving hands. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to be looking after therm. Amy and Jodie are always there to answer any questions and do so in such a positive and personal way, I really can’t thank them or the team enough.

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Stephanie
2 years ago

I have to say, when my daughter started in October 2023, I was incredibly anxious. The team at Kindred wheathampstead are unbelievable, they have made this journey amazing so far, they are kind and understanding and above all my daughter is happy and developing in ways I could only wish for. What an amazing setting it is for children.

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Richard Whan
2 years ago

Both our children have loved attending here, which made the morning routine to get them to nursery so much easier. Unpretentious nursery that tries to be helpful, understand family needs and is easy to communicte with at all levels

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Reviews from Google for Kindred Wheathampstead. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2015

  • November 2024Good
  • December 2018Good
  • July 2016Good
  • November 2015Good

Frequently asked about Kindred Wheathampstead

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