St Nicholas Day Nursery

Bennetts End House, Eastwick Road, Hemel Hempstead HP2 4JQ
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9.9 98 Reviews
  • St Nicholas Day Nursery, Hemel Hempstead
Occupying a converted manor house, St Nicholas Day Nursery is one of the oldest nurseries in the country. The home from home nursery was refurbished in 2020 providing a new, modern feel inside their converted grade 2 listed manor house setting. The nursery offers exceptional care, enriched by unique learning opportunities for your child. One such experience is child-friendly cooking classes, helping to equip children with valuable skills and deeper knowledge of the cooking process.

Inside, there are four rooms carefully designed with age-appropriate resources to aid the learning and development of your little one.

The homely setting is surrounded by extensive and secure grounds offering all age groups a vast area for physical activities. The garden, which was redesigned and refurbished in 2017, includes a mini woodland nature walk and growing area in order to give children the opportunity to further explore and extend their play.

The nursery place strong importance on outdoor learning and the children engage in regular forestry sessions throughout the week in order to explore and discover the outside world. Each age group also has their own garden space to explore.

St Nicholas is central to local schools and over the past 50 years have built strong links so that the children’s transition from nursery to school is as easy and smooth as possible – for both the children and parents!

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Care Provided by St Nicholas Day Nursery

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Frankie Bignall (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 17
  • Total Places for Children
  • 75
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Funding & Fees Guide for St Nicholas Day Nursery

  • AM/PM Session £52.90
    Full Day Session £86.60
    Short Day £71.50


    We're making childcare more accessible to families:


    * FREE nursery childcare for siblings of registered children!*
    * Fully flexible
    * No meal, consumable or enhancement charges
    * Part & fully funded places available


    * Terms and conditions apply

  • A £100 non-refundable registration fee is required to secure a place. Exact days of attendance should be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to the child’s start date. Any changes are subject to availability.
  • Parking

  • There is a small parking area available for parents and visitors.


St Nicholas Day Nursery Reviews (98)

Total of 98, showing 21-40
9.9

St Nicholas Day Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.938) out of 10, based on 27 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time St Nicholas Day Nursery has 98 reviews.

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Review from Jade B (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son loves going to nursery! On first impressions, the staff are professional, welcoming and knowledgeable. They answered all of my questions confidently and proudly showed me the ground - which by the way, is amazing. The garden really is the best I've seen at a nursery in a long time (we visited
three others in the area with no or little garden) this is particularly important to us as we live in a flat. I personally am in favour of the staff age range too - there's a real mix, and the overall vibe from the team is really lovely, and all of the children are happy and busy taking part in activities or just exploring the beautiful garden. I couldn't recommend St Nicholas enough - from the day dot, the support from the management team has been second to none (I was a very nervous parent).

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review; we are delighted to hear your feedback!


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Review from K K (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My daughter is always happy to go to the nursery, she seems to have a great time, and she's in a good mood when we pick her up. The comments from the staff on her personality and character make me feel that they are close to her and know her well. Her needs are met on a daily basis, and the staff are
always kind and happy to support her. They cooperate well with our parents and welcome our input.
The management team is also very helpful and responsive. One of our concerns around safeguarding was answered imminently and adequately, and measures were put in place to make us feel more comfortable.
The outdoor area is simply amazing - my daughter loves being in the garden, the same as my son when he was attending in the past (he's now in primary school). Overall, I am very happy with the nursery.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you so much for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from C R (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

There is nothing I can fault. My daughter loves her time at nursery. She is growing, learning and developing into such a wonderful child, and I'm certain that a big part of that is down to the amazing staff and facilities at St Nicholas.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter loves her time at the nursery and that she is growing, learning, and developing into a wonderful child - we are honoured to be a part of her journey.
Our dedicated staff and excellent facilities are committed to providing the best possible environment for her. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to continuing to nurture and support her development at St Nicholas.


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Review from J H (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot praise the staff at St Nicholas Day Nursery enough. My daughter sometimes struggles to go in in the morning as she has separation anxiety, but the staff are so so amazing at distracting her and cheering her up. They always update me throughout the day about her eating habits and what activities
she has done.
She comes home so happy! And they pay such amazing attention to her own unique ways that make it all the more reassuring as a mother.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your heartfelt praise! We're delighted to hear that you have had such a positive experience with the team at St Nicholas Day Nursery.
Supporting children with separation anxiety is important to us, and we're glad our staff has been amazing at distracting and cheering up your daughter. Keeping parents updated throughout the day about their child's eating habits and activities is a priority for us, and we're pleased that it provides reassurance.
We appreciate your kind words and the trust you've placed in us!


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Review from D W (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our twins have attended this setting for two years and are now ready for school. This place is a germ well hidden in Hemel Hempstead. The outdoor space is amazing, and not something I’ve seen any other nursery has! The staff are beyond amazing, always going above and beyond to make sure your little
one is happy and content. I am so grateful to the staff there. My twins have learned so much there; they can’t wait to go to nursery and don’t want to leave when I come to pick them up.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to have had the opportunity to care for your twins over the past two years.
We take pride in providing a nurturing environment where children can learn and grow. It's fantastic to hear that our outdoor space stands out and that your little ones have enjoyed it.
Our dedicated staff always strive to go above and beyond to ensure the happiness and contentment of every child.
We appreciate your gratitude and are delighted that your twins have learned so much and eagerly look forward to attending nursery. Thank you for choosing our setting and trusting us with their care and development.


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Review from Natasha W (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I have nothing but praise for St Nicholas Day Nursery. The staff are kind and caring. As parents, we have good communication with the team. My son enjoys being there, and it feels like all the staff know all the children, not just the key worker. It has been a pleasure to see how much my son has developed
since being there. The curriculum spans a wide range of areas that are taught through play in an age-appropriate manner. I would happily recommend the nursery to others, and my younger child is due to start next month.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful feedback about St Nicholas Day Nursery! We're delighted to hear that you have nothing but praise for our nursery. Our kind and caring staff take pride in creating a nurturing environment for all children. We prioritise open communication with parents and are thrilled that you have experienced this first-hand. It's heart-warming to know that your son enjoys his time at our nursery and that you've seen significant development in him. We look forward to welcoming your younger child next month.


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Review from Ana C (Mother of Child) published on 12 July 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My experience with this nursery has been outstanding! I would highly recommend any parents out there looking for a warm and nurturing environment for their child to consider this nursery. Thank you to all the staff who have made my child’s learning experience so enjoyable!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your review! We're thrilled to hear that your experience with our nursery has been outstanding. We take great pride in providing a warm and nurturing environment for all children in our care. Your recommendation means the world to us. We will extend your thanks to our dedicated team, who strive to make your child's learning experience enjoyable and memorable.


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Review from Nicola W (Mother of Child) published on 15 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I was impressed by how well the staff knew my child and her little characteristics. It is reassuring for me as a parent that the staff can read my child's needs and wants.
My daughter always comes home happy, and that is all I can ask for.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from I C (Father of Child) published on 15 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter loves going to nursery at St Nicholas! She is now in preschool and has been attending since she was a baby in Twinkle Stars, and has loved her time spent in every age group. We never have a struggle getting to nursery because she is always so excited to go. She has a great relationship with
all the staff and often talks about them and what they have taught her when I collect her. She always has lots to say about her day, so I know she has been busy and enjoying herself all day. The menu is varied, and although she is a little fussy, she always eats plenty throughout the day. The staff really care for the children, and I feel confident leaving her in their care, knowing that she will be happy and safe. I couldn't pick a better nursery for her, and I am so pleased with St Nicholas. The outside space is beautiful, and the team use it so well with lots of activities and the fabulous woodland area! I am so grateful for the love and care they have given her and how much she has learnt.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Hi, and thank you for such a kind review about our St Nicholas Nursery! We really appreciate it.


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Review from T S (Mother of Child) published on 15 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I cannot recommend St Nicholas enough. Our little boy has been there for nearly two years now and has only ever received the highest quality of care. He has always loved going to nursery and talks positively about his days and the fun he has there. The staff are always professional and have been very
supportive in all areas. The ladies are approachable and friendly and keep us up to date with his achievements and further goals. Looking forward to all the fun he has to come in the next two years there!

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for such a kind review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Lucy B (Mother of Child) published on 15 November 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending St Nicholas for six months now since he was eight months old, and I wouldn't feel happy to send him anywhere else.
The staff are all so lovely, and I have complete trust in them looking after him.
He is always happy going in the mornings, so I know he enjoys the day ahead.
My
older son attended St Nicholas for four years, from 11 months - starting school, and both he and myself couldn't have been happier.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for such a kind review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from R A (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has really enjoyed his time at the nursery; he's really happy and tells us all about his day. The staff are fantastic - they are brilliant. Management has been good and really helpful. I really like the fact the nursery has a big open space garden, so the children are not confined to a small
space. We’ve had a lovely experience.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from Luke F (Father of Child) published on 26 July 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter loves the nursery and always tells us about all the fun she has had during her days there! The staff are all very friendly and always seem great with the kids whenever we have seen them interacting. The building looks like it could use some TLC from the outside (I think it's listed though,
and Covid means we have never been inside), but the grounds are superb, and there is so much outdoor space for the little ones.
Management is very good and responsive to any queries! Highly recommed to anyone looking for great childcare at a location with such stunning outdoor space.

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your review; we really appreciate it!


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Review from S G (Father of Child) published on 20 April 2022
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 3.0 out of 5

The staff are great and so is the building and garden area. What has annoyed me in recent months is the change of policy to not allow packed lunches and you have to pay for their food. They claim this is for health reasons but this is clearly a money grab by the new bigger company that bought the nursery
in 2021. Other nurseries and schools can handle allergies but not this one?

Reply from Beth Lewendon, Marketing Coordinator at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for your feedback. One of the main reasons that we removed packed lunches from the settings was to allow greater control of the foods that enter the nurseries. We do have a number of children that attend with allergies and dietary requirements, so by controlling what enters the nurseries, we are in a better position to ensure their safety. We know exactly what ingredients go into the meals that we provide, and this will help us to ensure we can provide the safest environment for all our children. Having nursery meals also provides many additional advantages for children, which we would like all children to benefit from. Our menus change regularly and aim to provide a variety of healthy options for the children, meeting the required nutritional guidelines. We are always looking to better our menus so please do let us know if you have any particular suggestions- you can give feedback via letusknow@theoldstationnursery.co.uk. Thank you again.


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Review from Dani W (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

From the offset, the ladies at St Nicholas have been amazing! Prior to sending my little boy, the acting manager took the time to discuss all my worries and concerns, and from that conversation on, I knew we were in good hands. Not only has he come on in development and grown in confidence, but he
is unbelievably happy and that, to me, is what it's all about. I can't praise the staff enough! They are always happy to answer questions over the phone; they have kept him safe in regards to the ongoing Covid situation, and the support I've felt as a parent has been greatly appreciated. Wonderful nursery setting and fantastic staff, thank you so much.

Reply from Jo Bamforth, Marketing Manager at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for such wonderful feedback and for taking the time to write this review! Our staff are constantly working above and beyond, and we are delighted that your son has settled well!


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Review from Poorani U (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Wonderful nursery with very caring and understanding staff. They have looked after my son and helped him settle in. He loves his key worker and regularly mentions her. The staff are always friendly and give us a very good handover when we come to pick him up. Thank you.

Reply from Jo Bamforth, Marketing Manager at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for such positive feedback!


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Review from Rebecca W (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

St Nicholas has really stood out to me as a fantastic nursery with the amazing, caring staff in a beautiful setting. I have been so pleased with how fast my daughter has settled in. She is a clingy daughter, but the staff have managed to really welcome her that she now waves when I leave.
The garden
is amazing; it's so nice to know she is getting a lot of outdoor space. They offer her a huge variety of food and activities. But most of all, the staff are so caring towards her, and she talks about them at home as her friends!

Reply from Jo Bamforth, Marketing Manager at St Nicholas Day Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for such positive feedback! We take pride in our nurseries outdoor learning spaces! Our staff will be delighted to hear these comments.


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Review from Eloise S (Mother of Child) published on 10 May 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both of our children have gone to St Nicholas, and we have always been really pleased with the whole experience.
The grounds are just wonderful and have recently been developed to make them even better.
The best thing about the nursery though is the staff. They are all really friendly and helpful,
and we have great feedback from them each day.
We feel the nursery is very well led by the manager and her team, and she has made many fantastic positive changes including the online observations. The manager has always been approachable and has always been a friendly face at the nursery, going above and beyond to help us out.
Both of our boys have only ever come home from nursery happy and tired from a great day. What more could we want as parents?
Highly recommend.

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Review from Sara M (Mother of Child) published on 10 March 2021
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery is excellent and has been for the past 15 months since we joined. The staff are fantastic and my daughter loves it. The garden is fab and Woodland Wanderers is such a bonus. I will be so sad when my daughter goes on to school.

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Review from Charleen P (Mother of Child) published on 26 February 2021
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My son really enjoys going to St Nicholas Nursery. The practitioners are great with him, and I feel they all help with his development and well being during his time there.
The outdoor space is great; my son loves to explore and play indoors and out, the setting is perfect for this.
We are also provided
with regular updates on early years development, which helps us guide our son in a collaborative way in these crucial first years.


I highly recommend St Nicholas to any parents in the area looking for early years child care.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.938)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.938) out of 10 for St Nicholas Day Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 27 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.938 for St Nicholas Day Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (306 Excellents x 5) + (16 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 324 Ratings = 4.938

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for St Nicholas Day Nursery is based on 27 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 75 number of registered child places is 15, which has been reached with 27 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please Contact Us for Latest Vacancies

Awards / Recognitions (7)

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2024

Recipient: The Old Station Nursery Ltd

Date: Thursday 28 Mar 2024 More details

Nursery Management Today Awards 2023

Recipient: The Old Station Nursery Ltd

Date: Saturday 25 Nov 2023 More details

Top 20 Large Nursery Groups 2022

Recipient: The Old Station Nursery Ltd

Date: Friday 29 Apr 2022 More details

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Meet the Team (1)

Frankie

Frankie

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2007

Qualifications: NVQ3, DSL, Paediatric First Aid, Food Hygiene


Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact St Nicholas Day Nursery to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. St Nicholas Day Nursery has a Platinum Service – more info.