Harpenden Day Nursery

A converted Victorian house, a garden where children harvest apples, and books to borrow for home give Harpenden Day Nursery its character. At 34 Sun Lane, it has 36 places in total and accepts children aged 3 to 60 months.

No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet. The practical offer includes full-day bookings with a minimum of two days each week.

Older children can move freely between their playrooms and the garden, connecting indoor activities with outdoor exploration. The Growing Garden brings planting and tending fruit and vegetables into the day; digging, climbing and riding bikes add physical activity. A lending library lets families continue sharing stories at home.

Learning through play, curiosity and discovery supports communication, physical development and growing independence. Activities follow children's interests. Music and singing sit alongside regular community walks and outings, while preschool preparation emphasises confidence and readiness for the next stage.

Each child has a key person who works with their family, giving parents a familiar contact for individual care. Daily discussions, parent consultations and stay-and-play sessions support that relationship. The nursery app adds photographs and updates about routines, meals and learning, helping parents follow the day between conversations.

A SENCo role provides a route for arranging support for additional needs. The team also includes staff trained in first aid. These are care arrangements, rather than an inspection judgement on their effectiveness.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Full days are the booking pattern, with at least two required each week; priority in applications goes to full-time working families. The nursery operates for 51 weeks, closing for bank holidays and a Christmas week, with an earlier 4.30pm finish on Christmas Eve.

Enquiries can go through the branch's online form or by telephone on 01582 764172. Its address is 34 Sun Lane, Harpenden, AL5 4HA.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare includes the universal 15-hour entitlement for children aged three and four, 15 hours for eligible children aged two to three receiving additional government support, and 30 hours for eligible working families with children aged nine months to four years. Working-family funding starts in the term after the child turns nine months, with a valid code required before that term begins. Funding is stretched across 51 weeks: the respective weekly allocations are 11.17 and 22.34 hours. Additional private hours are charged.

Total childcare fees include the Everyday Essentials package: catering, care products and enrichment. On funded hours, meals and consumables are charged separately through that package, although fully funded sessions can be taken with no additional charges. Care products comprise wipes, sun cream and hand sanitiser; catering covers snacks, breakfast, cooked lunch and tea, including vegetarian and vegan options.

A non-refundable administration charge applies when securing a place, except for families taking funded hours only: they instead pay a deposit credited back within a month of starting. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Two-day commitment. The minimum booking is two full days each week. Families seeking a shorter regular commitment should weigh that requirement against their childcare needs.
• Funded-hours costs. Everyday Essentials are separate from funded education and care, with a charge-free funded option also offered. Request a quotation distinguishing private hours and each package component.
• Garden and daily care. At a visit, discuss how garden activities work for your child's age and how their key person will manage settling and routines.

Harpenden suits families seeking regular full-day attendance, from a two-day weekly commitment to full-time care. The growing garden, borrowing library and parent communication arrangements give families concrete features to weigh alongside the booking commitment and funded-hours charge structure.