Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Play dough, story experiments and a nursery garden give Hertford Heath’s youngest children plenty to work with. This is the nursery class within Hertford Heath Primary and Nursery School, with an admission limit of 34. Children can join in the term after turning three, with September, January and April entry points.

The nursery aims to develop independence through exploration and help children learn together. Its practical activities give that ambition substance: children make models, handle tools and talk about their families. For parents, the character is a school start built around doing, talking and playing.

Stories become activities here. Work around Goldilocks And The Three Bears has included matching differently sized tableware to bears, counting out porridge and measuring water. Activities linked to The Gingerbread Man have included making play dough figures and testing what happens to a gingerbread man in water. These examples connect early counting, language and investigation rather than treating them as separate exercises.

Daily Funky-Finger and mark making activities develop small hand movements. Children have used scissors and glue sticks to make collages, while junk modelling gives them practice cutting more challenging materials. An Interactive Whiteboard has supported counting and matching games. There is room for movement too: children have followed Cosmic Yoga instructions and played a game identifying animal sounds.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) learning here includes communication, exploring the world and developing physical skills. Adults help children choose activities and play alongside friends, indoors and outside. In the nursery garden, children have gathered storm-fallen sticks to build a bird’s nest. That is a concrete example of using the outdoor setting for shared, hands-on work. Sand and water have offered another practical investigation: children used shovels and whisks to combine them, learning to limit the water before moulding the mixture. This gives children a chance to explore how materials change through their own actions.

Settling can begin with a shorter day. For children who are not starting with 30 hours, the school encourages mornings first, adding afternoons as they become accustomed to school. A welcome meeting for new nursery parents and bookable Stay & Play sessions took place in July 2026, giving that intake opportunities to prepare before starting.

Ofsted’s December 2022 inspection found that early years children developed concentration, listened to others and learned the expected behaviour quickly; additional needs were identified promptly and accurately from the early years. These findings support the picture of adults helping children participate in learning.

Communication and consistency. The same inspection called for clearer information for parents and more consistent guidance for new staff correcting behaviour across the school. Families should keep those school-wide concerns in view alongside the early years findings.

For families using school catering, special diets require advance organisation. Hertfordshire Catering Limited cannot provide the child’s food until the special-menu form is completed. It will notify families when their request has been accepted and acknowledged. This is a practical step to complete before relying on catered meals.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Hertfordshire County Council in the autumn term. Treat this as a second application, even if your child already attends nursery: familiarity with school does not replace the admissions process.

Children eligible for 15 funded hours attend five mornings, from 9am to noon. Those eligible for 30 hours can add noon-to-3pm afternoons, subject to availability. Extra afternoon sessions are also offered to children eligible for 15 hours, subject to availability and a charge. Contact the school for current charges.

Breakfast and After School Club wraparound care is offered to nursery children. Nursery applications remain open throughout the year, with allocation dependent on availability; applications can be returned to the school office by email or post. To arrange a visit, call 01992 583622 or email admin@hertfordheath.herts.sch.uk.