Nurseries and childcare in Dacorum
We know of 80 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Dacorum. One is a state nursery school, shown below with its latest Ofsted inspection: 1 of 1 judged good or better. Most nurseries are private, voluntary or part of a school, and Ofsted inspects those too: every one has a report on Ofsted’s website.
State nursery schools across Dacorum
- Heath Lane Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Good (2023) · phone and directions
Each name goes to its Ofsted reports. Primary schools, many with a nursery class, are on the schools page.
Nurseries and childcare by area
A few to start with
- Apple Trees Child Care Home service Church Rd, St Albans, AL3 5 Call
- Apsley Lock Pre School Preschool BLRA community Room, Evans Wharf, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9WU 5 Call
- Bam&Tata’s Day Nursery Day care preschool 4, 5 Rossgate, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3LG 5 Call
- Bovingdon Pre School Preschool Memorial Hall, High St, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 0HJ 5 Call
- Boxmoor Pre-School Preschool Cowper Rd, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 5 Call
- Fledglings Nursery Day care preschool Ashlyns Hall/Chesham Rd, Berkhamsted, HP4 2ST 5 Call
- Gadebridge Nursery and Preschool Preschool Warners End Community Centre, Rossgate, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 3LG 4 Call
- Heath Lane Nursery School Elementary school Heath Ln, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1TT 5 Call
- Leverstock Green Playgroup - preschool Preschool Village Hall, Leverstock Green Way, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8QG 5 Call
- Little Angels Pre School Preschool Bennetts End Community Centre, Leys Rd, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 9LZ 5 Call
- Little Oaks Pre School Preschool Adeyfield Community Centre, The Queen's Square, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4EW 5 Call
- Maria Montessori Nursery School Home service Brownlow Rooms, Station Approach, Berkhamsted, HP4 1FQ 5 Call
- Potten End Pre School Preschool The June Farmery Building, Berkhamsted, HP42 5 Call
- St Nicholas Day Nursery Day care preschool Eastwick Row, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 5 Call
- Sunnyside Rural Trust Activity Centre Child care and day care Ivy House Lane, Berkhamsted, HP4 2PP 5 Call
- The Heather Club Day care preschool Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 5 Call
- Woodhall Farm Pre-School Preschool Datchet Cl, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7JX 5 Call
- Young Discoverers Preschool Preschool South Hill Early Years Centre, Cemetery Hill, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JF 5 Call
- Abbot's Hill Nursery Day care preschool Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 Call
- Berkhamsted Childminder Emma Bax Home service Egerton Road, Berkhamsted, HP4 Call
- Berkhamsted Childminder Kate Brooks Home service Gaveston Drive , Berkhamsted, HP4 Call
- Berkhamsted Childminder Shelley Piatek Home service Valley Road, Berkhamsted, HP4 Call
- Berkhamsted Childminder Zoe Marsh - Rowlinson Home service Wimbrick House Briarway, Berkhamsted, HP4 Call
- Boxmoor Hall Preschool School EA, Sport centre, Park Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 1JS 5 Call
Choosing a nursery
- Read the latest Ofsted report. Search by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Private nurseries and childminders are on it as well as school nurseries.
- Visit, and ask about the day. Ratios of staff to children, how they settle a new child in, food, naps and time outdoors.
- Ask about funded hours and extra charges. Some nurseries charge for meals, nappies or trips on top of funded hours.
- Check waiting lists early. Popular nurseries fill months ahead, especially for babies.
Questions people ask
What do Ofsted grades mean for nurseries?
Until late 2025 Ofsted gave one overall grade: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. Newer inspections give a report card instead, grading each area on a scale from exceptional to urgent improvement. Older grades stay on a nursery’s record until its next inspection.
Can I get free childcare hours?
In England every three and four year old can get 15 hours a week of funded childcare in term time. Working parents can get up to 30 hours a week from when their child is nine months old, if each parent earns at least 16 hours a week at the minimum wage and under £100,000 a year. Check and apply at childcarechoices.gov.uk.
How do I check a nursery’s Ofsted report?
Search for it by name or postcode on reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Every registered nursery and childminder in England has a page there with its inspection reports.
How many nurseries are there in Dacorum?
We know of 80 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Dacorum, including 1 state nursery school. Childminders working from home don’t always appear on maps, so there may be more.
Other things people look for
Nursery school inspections from Ofsted, Open Government Licence. Listings from Overture Maps, the Food Standards Agency and © OpenStreetMap contributors. Missing one? Tell us.