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Smartys Day Nursery

Ofsted: Needs attention·
4.8(5 Google reviews) ·The Old Community Centre, Burford Way, Hitchin, SG5 2UZ · Hertfordshire
Number of places
58 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2026
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Smartys Day Nursery is located in Hitchin, providing year-round care for children from birth to four years old. The day nursery opens from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, and offers funded childcare for eligible two, three, and four-year-olds. At its inspection in February 2026, Ofsted judged the overall effectiveness of the nursery to be 'Good'. The inspector found that children are happy, settled, and form warm relationships with staff, who are good role models.

Staff follow home routines to help children feel secure and provide sensitive support to ensure children with special educational needs and/or disabilities are included. To aid communication, staff use sign language, which particularly helps babies and children who speak English as an additional language. The inspector noted that children of all ages show a love of books and reading. Parents reported that they receive regular updates on their child's progress. The report also mentioned that opportunities for children to develop mathematical skills in the outdoor area could be extended.

Our ethos

Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) is committed to providing high quality care and education for children aged 3 months to 5 years in a homely and caring atmosphere. Children are able to learn through play, enabling environments, and caring loving staff. We believe that every child is a different kind of flower, and all together, they make this nursery a beautiful garden.

What it's like

Children are settled, content and happy, feeling safe and secure in the indoor and outdoor play areas. They make good progress in all areas of learning, supported by staff who are good role models and promote respect. Children mimic this positive attitude, showing politeness, respect, and kindness towards others, forming warm relationships with their key persons.

Love of booksEffective communicationStrong progress monitoringOutdoor playSupportive staff

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (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.

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Key facts

Opening hours

Monday – Friday between the hours of 7.30am-6.30pm over 51 weeks of the year.

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All_year

Registered with Ofsted

2017

Waitlist

Waiting list until 2027

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Needs attention

Last inspected Feb 2026

Headline: Needs attention

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
—
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementNeeds attention
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
InclusionNeeds attention
Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Smartys Day Nursery

Last inspected 19 February 2026

What it's like to attend

Children are settled, content and happy, feeling safe and secure in the indoor and outdoor play areas. They make good progress in all areas of learning, supported by staff who are good role models and promote respect. Children mimic this positive attitude, showing politeness, respect, and kindness towards others, forming warm relationships with their key persons.

Inspector highlights

  • Children of all ages show a love of books and reading, with babies using their senses to explore books and older children using props to aid concentration and recall.
  • Staff use sign language alongside verbal language to support early communication, particularly aiding babies and children who speak English as an additional language.
  • Staff carefully assess and monitor children's progress, ensuring no child falls behind and planning activities based on what children already know and need to learn next.
  • Children extend their understanding of the natural world, learning about bee life cycles, growing tomatoes, and involving parents in cooking activities to continue learning at home.
  • Managers thoughtfully consider staff training and support their development, offering regular supervision and manageable workloads.
  • Parents report that they are updated regularly about their children's progress. Staff feedback at the end of the session highlights children's achievements during the day.
  • Staff sensitively promote children's emotional well-being by following home routines, helping children feel secure and comfortable.

Areas to develop

  • 1Extend opportunities for early mathematical skills development in the outdoor environment to children who prefer outdoor learning.
  • 2Support staff in sharing knowledge of safety with parents, such as safer sleeping practices.
Inspection #10174539 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Sensitive support from staff ensures all children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are meaningfully included.

Outdoor space

Children enjoy playing outside and access resources, such as the role-play kitchen. However, children who prefer to play and learn outside are not consistently offered a wide range of opportunities that support their learning in all areas, such as mathematics.

EAL / language support

Staff use sign language alongside verbal language to support early communication, particularly aiding babies and children who speak English as an additional language, and they make good progress in their communication skills.

Inspection history

Date: October 2021

  • February 2026Needs attention
  • November 2021Good
  • October 2021Good

Frequently asked about Smartys Day Nursery

About the setting

Smartys Day Nursery was re-registered in 2017 and is located in Hitchin. It operates all year round from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for bank holidays. The setting provides funded early education for two-, three- and four-year-old children. There are 18 members of staff, nine of whom hold an appropriate early years qualification at level 3 or above.

URN
EY555147
Registered person
Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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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