Nurseries and childcare in Watford
We know of 33 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Watford. 2 are state nursery schools, shown below with their latest Ofsted inspection: 2 of 2 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 Watford
- Kingswood Nursery SchoolGood or better School remains Outstanding (2023) · phone and directions
- Oxhey Nursery SchoolGood or better 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
- Knutsford Community Pre School Preschool J M I School, Knutsford Ave, Watford, WD24 5 Call
- Oxhey Early Years Centre Day care preschool Eastbury Road, Watford, WD19 5 Call
- Teddies Tots Day Nursery Day care preschool Sandown Road, Watford, WD24 7UE 5 Call
- Berrygrove Preschool and Daycare Centre Preschool Cow Ln, Watford, WD25 Call
- Boys & Girls Nursery Croxley Green Preschool Woodshots Mdw, Rickmansworth, WD18 8YS Call
- Building Blocks Pre-School Day care preschool St Andrews Church, Church Road, Watford, WD17 4PY Call
- Bushebabes Nursery Preschool 82 Bushey Hall Rd, Bushey, WD23 2EQ Call
- Cassiobury Infants and Nursery School Preschool Cassiobury Infants and Nursery School, Bellmount Wood Ave, Watford, WD17 3PE Call
- Early Education - South Yorkshire Branch Day care preschool 54 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1DU Call
- Indradhanush Kids Academy Preschool 44 Merton Rd, Watford, WD18 0WY Call
- Kingswood Nursery School Preschool Briar Rd, Watford, WD25 0DX Call
- Nascot Wood Infant and Nursery School Elementary school Nascot Wood Rd, Watford, WD17 4YT Call
- Parkgate Infants and Nursery School Elementary school Northfield Gardens, Watford, WD24 7RL Call
- Small World Nursery Day care preschool 22 Tolpits Ln, Watford, WD18 6AA Call
- St Anthony's Catholic Primary and Nursery School Elementary school Croxley View, Watford, WD18 Call
- St Michaels Pre-School Preschool Church Hall, Crown Rise, Garston, Watford, WD25 Call
- TeddyBear Child Care Home service Louvain Way, Watford, WD25 Call
- The Courtyard Pre-School Preschool Leavesden Rd, Watford, WD24 Call
- Top Place Preschool Preschool 2, United Kingdom, Watford, WD Call
- Watford Day Service Day care preschool 65 Queen's Rd, Watford, WD17 2QN Call
- Bright Horizons The Park Day Nursery And Preschool Preschool Park Avenue, Watford, WD18 Call
- Bright Horizons Watford Day Nursery And Preschool Preschool 2 Printers Avenue, Watford, WD18 7QR Call
- Cassio Pre School Preschool Church Road, Watford, WD17 Call
- Dru M Child care and day care Parkgate Community Centre, Southwold Rd, Watford, WD24 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 Watford?
We know of 33 nurseries, preschools and childcare providers across Watford, including 2 state nursery schools. 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.