Old MacDonald's Day Nursery Leverstock Green

A large all-weather outdoor garden and bright rooms give Old MacDonald's Day Nursery Leverstock Green its practical character: space indoors, outdoor play built into the day, and care spanning babies through to preschool children. The nursery has capacity for 80 children aged 3 months to 5 years. It operates on a primary school site in Hemel Hempstead, but nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place.

At its April 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, alongside positive relationships between children and staff. That judgement is dated. The strongest current practical features are the garden, activities shaped around children's interests, and a choice of full days, mornings or afternoons with no minimum attendance.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play giving children opportunities to practise communication, movement and everyday skills. Activities here are adapted to children's interests and individual needs.

The daily timetable combines freely chosen play with art, messy activities, stories and singing. Adventure play is a scheduled part of the routine, alongside quieter activities; the timetable is a guide that can change with children's ages and needs. This matters for families comparing a structured day with one that leaves children room to choose what they do.

In April 2023, babies explored sound with instruments and handled objects with different textures from treasure baskets. Younger children made painted marks with fruit and squeezed dough. These were hands-on experiences: listening, touching and making marks gave children different ways to investigate materials.

Older children's play in April 2023 included building a pretend zoo with wooden materials, discussing their ideas and finding ways to build enclosures for a pretend snake and giraffe. Familiar stories also became imaginative play. Counting, comparing sizes and matching colours appeared alongside these activities, connecting early mathematical ideas with things children could handle and use.

There were limits to the adult support in April 2023. Opportunities to develop unplanned learning were sometimes missed, children did not consistently have enough thinking time after questions, and routines sometimes stopped activities before children had finished. Those are useful points to explore when considering how the nursery balances its timetable with sustained play.

Outdoor and Community Life

The large all-weather garden supports outdoor activities in both parts of the daily routine. It gives outdoor play a regular place alongside indoor activities, rather than leaving it as an occasional extra.

In April 2023, younger children practised kicking balls and climbing the slide steps, while older children steered wheeled toys around a roadway track. These examples show different physical challenges for different stages: early coordination for younger children and more controlled movement for older ones.

In April 2023, staff gathered information from parents about children's routines, interests and existing skills before they started. That connected care at home with care at nursery and gave staff a practical starting point for settling children. It also meant conversations could begin with the individual child, rather than just the timetable.

Everyday independence was part of the April 2023 experience. Children practised helping themselves to food, pouring drinks, managing tissues and attempting outdoor clothing. Staff responded to babies' sounds and gestures, while younger children heard new words during sand play. These small exchanges linked communication with tasks children were already doing.

Emotional learning in April 2023 included pictures showing different feelings and group activities involving sharing and taking turns. Older children had concrete prompts for talking about emotions, rather than being expected to find the words unaided. The current routine also sets aside time for sleep or quiet activities after lunch, allowing rest to sit alongside the busier parts of the day.

A cook prepares the menu, including a hot lunch with dessert, breakfast, snacks and high tea. Children attending morning or afternoon sessions receive the meals that fall within their attendance times.

Sessions and Attendance

Full days run from 7.30am to 6.30pm, and morning sessions from 8am to 1pm. Afternoon sessions finish at 6pm; their starting time needs clarification before booking. There is no minimum attendance, making the nursery relevant to families seeking shorter sessions as well as those arranging whole-day care.

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year except public bank holidays. The daily routine includes meals, rest and outdoor activity across that window, so the session chosen also determines which parts of the day a child joins.

Initial enquiries precede enrolment. The enrolment form is for families who have accepted an offered place, and parents must read the policies and procedures and sign a childcare agreement before their child starts. The form also requests details of allergies, disabilities or ongoing health conditions, giving families a specific route for sharing care information.

Getting There

The address is Leverstock Green C Of E Primary, Green Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4SA. Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 01442 967447 or by email to leverstockgreen@oldmacdonaldsdaynursery.co.uk.

The nursery operates from Leverstock Green Church of England Primary school. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place; families still apply through the local authority admissions process.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered, with the enrolment form accepting a government funding code for up to 15 or 30 hours of free childcare. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. Families comparing a funded arrangement with privately paid attendance need the quotation to match their intended sessions.

• Afternoon timing. The enrolment form gives both 1pm and 1.30pm starts for afternoon sessions, each ending at 6pm. Clarify which applies to your booking, especially if work or collection arrangements depend on it.
• Time to finish playing. In April 2023, routines sometimes interrupted activities and children were not consistently given enough time to answer questions. During a visit, ask how staff now protect sustained play and allow children thinking time.
• The funded quotation. The nursery offers funded childcare alongside full-day and shorter attendance. Ask for one written breakdown covering your chosen pattern, meals and non-food consumables so the total arrangement is clear.
• A school-site nursery. The primary school setting may appeal to families thinking ahead to Reception. Keep the nursery decision and the local authority school application separate: attendance does not guarantee a school place.

Leverstock Green suits families wanting either full-day attendance or morning and afternoon sessions, with no minimum attendance and an all-weather garden supporting outdoor play. Its April 2023 Good judgement provides a dated quality reference, while the practical offer gives families several ways to organise care.

The useful balance is between freedom to play and a recognisable daily rhythm. Art, stories, outdoor activity and rest all have a place; the question from April 2023 is whether that rhythm now gives children enough time to pursue an activity and respond at their own pace.