Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Saplings Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2022)
·
5.0(1 parent reviews) ·Waltham Hall Cottage, Bambers Green, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 6PF · Essex
Number of places
82 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2022
Local authority
Essex

About this day nursery

Saplings Nursery, established in 1998, offers a nurturing "home from home" environment for children in Bishop's Stortford. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm, throughout the year.

They cater to different age groups in separate facilities: Waltham Hall Cottage is home to babies, toddlers, and two-to-three-year-olds, while Chapter House is dedicated to preschool children. Saplings emphasises a play-based learning approach and prides itself on its compassionate, experienced, and enthusiastic staff who are committed to supporting both children and parents.

The nursery held an "Outstanding" Ofsted rating for over 12 years and was rated "Good" in September 2022. They also accept all childcare vouchers and provide flexible options to make childcare affordable.

Our ethos

Saplings Nursery emphasises a play-based learning approach, prioritising a nurturing "home from home" environment. They are committed to their compassionate, experienced, and enthusiastic staff supporting both children and parents.

What it's like

Children are happy to attend this nursery and display a positive attitude to learning. They know the setting's established routines and form strong relationships with staff, who in turn support their emotional well-being, self-esteem and resilience. Children navigate with ease and confidence around the nursery, choosing activities that spark their curiosity and excitement.

Family-runExtended hoursPlay-based learning

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

Opening hours

7.30am - 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year

Age range

Babies to Preschool

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2007

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Saplings Nursery

Last inspected 6 September 2022 · Anca Sandu

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

Children are happy to attend this nursery and display a positive attitude to learning. They know the setting's established routines and form strong relationships with staff, who in turn support their emotional well-being, self-esteem and resilience. Children navigate with ease and confidence around the nursery, choosing activities that spark their curiosity and excitement.

Inspector highlights

  • Children have access to a wide array of meaningful activities, organised in separate rooms, including a very well-equipped room for supervised physical activities.
  • Children behave well and follow staff's instructions to stay safe, sharing and taking turns with ease.
  • The key-person system is effective and implemented well across the nursery, strengthening bonds and helping children settle.
  • Staff have good knowledge and understanding of children's learning, using observations to guide their planning.
  • Children have good opportunities to learn about nature and the world around them, with access to a large outdoor space and helping to look after animals.

Areas to develop

  • 1strengthen the quality of teaching to provide further challenge that extends children's learning
  • 2help staff to develop their knowledge of how to consistently support younger children's communication and language skills
Inspection #10250235 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

parents praise how well staff support children's emotional well-being and how effective the overall communication is

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

Outdoor space

Children have access to a large outdoor space, including a vegetable patch, where they help to look after animals, such as chickens, guinea pigs and snails. They eagerly dig in the mud, fill and empty buckets with sand, and look for bugs in the forest school provision.

Parent Reviews of Saplings Nursery

5.0
(1)

Reviews from Google for Saplings Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: September 2022

  • November 2022Good
  • September 2022Good

Frequently asked about Saplings Nursery

Nearby day nurseries in Bishop's Stortford

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Saplings Nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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