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Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2025)
·
4.3(16 parent reviews) ·23-25 Bury Mead Road, Hitchin, SG5 1RT · Hertfordshire
Number of places
127 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2025
Local authority
Hertfordshire

About this day nursery

Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin, established in 2002, offers a good provision for children aged 0-4 years, operating all-year-round from 8 am to 6 pm. The nursery implements an ambitious curriculum that thoughtfully plans activities to extend children's curiosity and sequence their learning, resulting in good progress in their development.

Staff warmly greet children, helping them settle in, and children demonstrate positive attitudes towards learning. The curriculum encourages children's voices, with opportunities for leadership roles like eco-warriors and student council members, teaching them about environmental care and decision-making.

Physical development is well-supported through activities such as yoga and outdoor play, including a "Gruffalo hunt" in the garden that encourages movement and storytelling, alongside trike riding and mud kitchen play. The nursery places high value on parent partnerships, fostering engagement through various events and initiatives like welcome breakfasts and a "book swap" to strengthen literacy at home.

Strong support is provided for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) through a collaborative approach with parents and external professionals, ensuring an inclusive environment. The nursery actively participates in the local community with regular outings, including forest-school visits and trips to local businesses.

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring children's interests are paramount, and overall, the nursery was rated as 'Good' by Ofsted in its latest inspection on 31st January 2025.

Our ethos

At Toad Hall we believe that children benefit from early year’s care and education, however, we understand the financial impact that childcare costs have on families. Our approach focuses on supporting children’s communication, language and physical development, with a routine that introduces slight structure while still allowing for individual needs to be met. Your child’s individual learning and development continues to be catered for by taking into account their current likes and interests and by their key person carrying out observations and creating next steps tailored to their individual needs.

What it's like

Staff engage children warmly and implement an ambitious curriculum focused on extending curiosity and sequential learning. Children show positive attitudes and make good progress. Staff value children's voices, encouraging leadership roles and decision-making, while acting as positive role models to foster good behaviour and support well-being.

Ambitious curriculumChildren's voices valuedStrong physical developmentValued parent partnershipsStrong SEND supportCommunity engagement

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin

Last inspected 31 January 2025 · Emily Woodhead

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

Staff engage children warmly and implement an ambitious curriculum focused on extending curiosity and sequential learning. Children show positive attitudes and make good progress. Staff value children's voices, encouraging leadership roles and decision-making, while acting as positive role models to foster good behaviour and support well-being.

Inspector highlights

  • Staff implement an ambitious curriculum, planning activities thoughtfully to extend children's curiosity and sequence their learning.
  • Staff value children's voices and implement strategies for them to express views and opinions, encouraging leadership roles and decision-making.
  • Physical development is well supported, both indoors and outdoors, with activities such as yoga sessions and outdoor play.
  • Parent partnerships are highly valued, with families engaged through various events and initiatives like welcome breakfasts and a "book swap".
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive strong support through a collaborative approach with parents and external professionals.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to provide consistent opportunities for children to be able to extend their learning and development even further.
Inspection #10367403 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive strong support. Staff promote a collaborative approach, working closely with parents and external professionals. They ensure an inclusive environment, liaising with the team to adapt spaces and implement strategies that meet individual learning needs.

Outdoor space

The garden is used for activities such as a "Gruffalo hunt" that encourages movement and storytelling. Outdoor play further enhances motor skills, with children actively involving staff as they engage in activities such as painting, trike riding, and mud kitchen play. The nursery actively participates in the local community through regular outings, including forest-school visits and trips to the park.

Parent Reviews of Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin

4.3
(16)
Melissa Hewitt
6 years ago

My daughter (now 19 months) loves going to nursery at Toad Hall and is growing and developing amazingly. The staff are fantastic and I feel confident leaving my child in the care. My eldest who is now in 'big' school went to Toad Hall as well as absolutely loved it. She still talks about it. Would recommend to any parents of kids of any age.

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Helen Twomey
6 years ago

My children have been at Toad Hall for the past six years (both from babies until the end of pre-school). We absolutely love it! The staff are fantastic and truly care about the children. They go above and beyond to make each day fun and interesting for them. They are also very friendly and you can always have a good chat with them! I always feel very happy to leave my daughter with them, as I did my son when he was there. What is also great is the kind, flexible approach the management take. Thank you so much for everything!

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Hayley Collins
6 years ago

I couldn’t be happier with Toad Hall. My son has been going there for the last two years and he is always so happy when I drop him off in the mornings and again when I collect him at the end of the day. The staff are brilliant, I feel confident that my son is in the best care when I am at work. They do so much with the children and he has come on leaps and bounds since joining Toad Hall. The staff are brilliant, especially Debbie, Lucy, Pal, Hayley and Mollie who all take the most amazing care of my son and he absolutely loves them.

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Lucie Bell
6 years ago

We moved our little boy to Toad Hall after a nightmare experience with another nursery. Being at Toad Hall has shown us how nurseries should be run. The facilities are fantastic with a lovely outdoor area, including a beautiful garden growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. The rooms are really well set up with lots of activities and toys to engage the children. The staff are so caring, nurturing and engaged with the children, we really couldn’t ask for a better place to send our little boy- he loves going! Communication is brilliant, with regular updates on your child’s progress, changes to the nursery and you’re always made to feel welcome if you pop in to the office with a query. I would recommend Toad Hall to any parent looking for a nursery for their little one

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Richard Murray
6 years ago

Toad Hall is really great, and we’re so glad we found it. My 2 year daughter loves going in each day and seeing her key workers. She always comes home with new words, songs and artworks, and the team make sure to tell us how she’s slept, what’s she’s eaten and what she’s done that day. And to top it all off, the staff arrange regular weekend outings, like to standalone farm for the kids and parents to mingle out of hours. Couldn’t recommend it enough.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: February 2011

  • January 2025Good
  • February 2019Good
  • August 2015Good
  • February 2011Good

Frequently asked about Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin

About the setting

Toad Hall Nursery Hitchin registered in 2002. The nursery employs 51 members of staff, 40 of whom hold appropriate early years qualifications at level 2 or above, including one with qualified teacher status. It operates Monday to Friday for 51 weeks a year, excluding bank holidays, from 8am to 6pm, and provides funded early education for eligible children.

URN
EY239470
Registered person
Careroom Limited
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Good

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