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St Paul's Walden Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Oct 2024)
·
4.0(3 parent reviews) ·St. Pauls Walden Junior School, Bendish Lane, Hitchin, SG4 8HX · Hertfordshire
Number of places
26 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Oct 2024
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

St Paul's Walden Nursery, located in Hitchin, provides a nurturing and engaging environment for children aged 2 to 4 years old. Registered in 2004 and operating as a childcare on non-domestic premises, the nursery is independently run.

Its dedicated team of five staff members, four of whom hold childcare qualifications at level 2 or above, prioritises children's emotional well-being and fosters secure attachments through home visits and tailored settling-in sessions. The nursery offers a child-centred approach to learning, with staff planning experiences that support individual interests, such as creative activities and imaginative play.

Children benefit from opportunities to develop language and communication skills through clear communication, meaningful questions, singing, and simple sign language. The ambitious curriculum also aims to develop a diverse range of skills in preparation for school, incorporating children's interests and engaging activities.

Parents are kept informed of their child's achievements and are warmly invited to attend stay-and-play sessions, with many describing the staff as 'friendly' and the environment as 'nurturing and vibrant'. The nursery is open term-time only, from 9 am to 3 pm, Monday to Friday, and provides funded early education for two- and three-year-old children.

What it's like

Staff ensure a safe and welcoming environment where children feel happy, secure, and confident. They plan engaging learning experiences based on children's interests, helping them make good progress. Children are active problem-solvers and benefit from outings in the community, enhancing their learning about the wider world and boosting their self-esteem.

Child-centred learningStrong communication skillsNurturing environmentAmbitious curriculumPositive parent feedback

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

Key facts

Opening hours

9am until 3pm, Monday to Friday

Term time / All Year

Term_time_only

Established

2004

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for St Paul's Walden Nursery

Last inspected 21 October 2024

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff ensure a safe and welcoming environment where children feel happy, secure, and confident. They plan engaging learning experiences based on children's interests, helping them make good progress. Children are active problem-solvers and benefit from outings in the community, enhancing their learning about the wider world and boosting their self-esteem.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff create a safe and welcoming environment where children feel happy and secure, with their emotional well-being prioritised.
  • Engaging learning experiences are planned to support children's interests, leading to good progress in their learning.
  • Staff are positive role models, consistently using good manners and motivating children to be active problem solvers.
  • The support for children's language and communication skills is a real strength, with staff using clear communication, meaningful questions, singing, and simple sign language.
  • Leaders have created an ambitious curriculum that supports children to develop a diverse range of skills and knowledge in readiness for school.
  • Parents are kept informed of their children's achievements and are warmly invited into stay-and-play sessions.
  • The leaders work in close partnership, demonstrating clear oversight of the nursery and prioritising staff well-being.
  • Arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with an open and positive culture that puts children's interests first.

Areas to develop

  • 1Extend the information gathered from parents when children first start to inform children's unique next steps in learning from the outset and provide ideas to aid learning at home.
  • 2Develop effective strategies to help children to understand the behavioural expectations in place.
Inspection #10359722 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff work closely with parents and other professionals to support children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring children make the best possible progress from their starting points. Any additional funding received is used to support individual needs.

Outdoor space

Children thoroughly enjoy exploring the inviting outdoor area, particularly the sensory wagon, and relish the challenge of pedalling vehicles backwards and forwards within the designated area, promoting physical activity.

Parent Reviews of St Paul's Walden Nursery

4.0
(3)
Joanna Gourd
8 months ago

After our local Pre school closed I was very nervous to find a good pre school in the area. Finding this pre school was one of the best choices I made for my daughter. The staff are all really kind and trustworthy just genuinely lovely people, they are all mums themselves so really put that extra love and care into there jobs. The preschool itself is always clean and organized, good choices of toys and activities. My little girl always coming out with great artwork and baking. She could write her own name by the time she was ready for school. For me I always knew she was safe and very cared for Would 100% recommend this place to anyone :)

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Inspection history

Date: January 2011

  • October 2024Good
  • December 2018Good
  • October 2015Good
  • January 2011Good

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