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Brock House Nursery and Day Care has a central location and lots of flexibility with breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday clubs in addition to all the usual day care. Little Steps Day Nursery, run from a large house in a residential area, offers a homely feel, while Ladybirds Nursery has a greener location in Highfield Park. Some of the nurseries (including the chains) have instant availability, others a wait of up to nine months.
Many of the private schools have nurseries. Beechwood Park School’s is purpose-built and uses specialist music and PE teachers from the prep, while Westbrook Hay Prep School encourages its nursery children to take part in school productions and really feel part of pre-prep life. In Manor Lodge School nursery, we liked the colourful classrooms and theme-led learning, while at Abbot’s Hill School the setting is stunning. If you’re lucky, you’ll only have to wait between three and nine months but in some cases, you’ll need to sign up in pregnancy.
Now on bigger premises, Noah’s Ark Preschool has impressive imaginative play areas and there’s a great virtual tour on the website. Highfield Preschool is a Christian-run, affordable option that’s popular among locals, while Batford Nursery School and Daycare is true to its word of taking littluns’ ‘boundless energy and big dreams’ seriously. For outdoorsy types Fingertips Creative Arts Preschool and Forest School is a family run nursery based on two sites. St Hilda’s School is the local private school offering, which runs a fun-filled nursery. Three months tends to be the longest wait.
Christchurch Nursery is one of the oldest in Radlett, dating back to the 1960s. Located in a carpeted church hall, it also has a pleasant garden. Among the popular chains is First Place Nurseries on the outskirts of town – a particularly spacious offering. Little Acorns Montessori School in Bushey is popular. Waiting lists in most cases – usually over three months.
Among the private schools with nurseries is Edge Grove School where there are 40 places. Aldenham Prep School’s nursery stands out for its grounds, flexibility of hours and lovely staff – and they get to learn French straightaway. Parents also rate the nursery at St Margaret’s Junior School – a place for real discovery and fun, we heard. Waiting lists are longer for these – usually over six months, sometimes more.
Rickmansworth Nursery School has been a firm local favourite for nearly 30 years. Located just outside the town centre, it overlooks the playing fields and Chess valley. Rickmansworth has two Daybreak Nurseries – we recommend the one in the town centre, with recently refurbished premises. In Chorleywood, Hillside Community Preschool provides a stimulating environment. And because most of the children go on to one of the three Chorleywood primaries, they and their parents get to move up together.
There are multiple school nursery options, especially for girls. At Royal Masonic School Cadogan House, most girls join the nursery at 3+ for automatic entry into reception; ditto at Charlotte House Preparatory School for Girls, where tiny tots love mixing with the older girls.
A mixed bag in terms of waiting lists – anything from a month to over a year.
Need help? Perhaps you suspect your child has some learning difficulty and you would like advice on what you should do. Or perhaps it is becoming clear that your child's current school is not working for him or her, and you need help to find a mainstream school which has better SEN provision, or to find a special school which will best cater for your child's area of need. Our SEN consultancy team advises on both special schools, and the mainstream schools with good SEN support, from reception through to the specialist colleges for 19+. Special Educational Needs Index
Find top international, British, IB and American schools in over 40 countries. The Good Schools Guide International publishes impartial and forthright reviews of international schools across the world.
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