Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School

Bunkers Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 8RP
Submit a Review
9.9 81 Reviews
  • Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School, Hemel Hempstead
Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School is a purpose-built day nursery for children aged six months to four years. It is situated next to Abbot's Hill Prep School.

The modern and spacious nursery is contained over one level, provides children with free-flow access to the nursery's outside space and provides full day care, all year round.

Children have access to three main age-specific areas, all of which have resources that have been carefully selected to enhance learning and development.

Care Provided by Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Good to Know

  • Owner
  • Abbot's Hill School
  • Person in charge
  • Sarah Lanchbery (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 20
  • Registered Charity Number
  • 311053
  • Total Places for Children
  • 65
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 6 months
    • to 4 years 11 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, 1 week at Christmas & 1 week in the Summer

Funding & Fees Guide for Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School

  • September 2024 -
    Under 3's:
    Full day, 8am - 5:30pm - £87
    Short day, 8:30am - 3:30pm - £78


    Over 3's:
    Full day, 8:00am - 5:30pm - £88* before funding applied
    Short day, 8:30am - 3:30pm -£98* before funding applied


    All children:
    Early drop off, 7:30am - 8am - £5
    Late collection, 5:30pm - 6pm - £5


Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School Reviews (81)

Total of 81, showing 61-80
9.9

Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.941) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School has 81 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 81
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Date Published

81
0
8
17
64
Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has just moved up classes. She has had the pleasure of being in the nursery for the last 12 months and not only loves it but thrives there. The staff are ALL outstanding and the one to one time they spent with the children is priceless, this is one of the reasons why our daughter is beyond
her years in terms of interaction & social awareness. The facilities and cleanliness are superb and meals freshly prepared/cooked on site.
My wife and I have already recommend the nursery to a friend of ours and fortunately their son has managed to get a starting place next month.
This really is an outstanding nursery, I cannot praise it and more importantly the staff highly enough. I would HIGHLY recommend Abbots Hill nursery to all nursery parents.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery itself is a fun and bright environment and I think it provides the backdrop for effective learning. Our daughter and our son have had the most amazing time at nursery– had lots of fun and loves the teachers very much.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending Abbot's Hill Nursery since he turned one and we are delighted with every aspect of the Nursery. The facilities and surroundings are stunning. Having visited numerous nurseries in the area, Abbot's Hill far exceeded all the others. The care that all staff take of our son is
outstanding and the designated 'key person' continually challenges and offers new opportunities which is clear in his consistent development. Every staff member knows him by name which demonstrates the caring nature of the nursery. A daily log of his activities throughout each day is recorded and provided upon pick up. We also receive regular updates of his activities via the online/app tapestry platform which is very detailed and informative. Our son loves every day he spends at nursery and regularly talks about the staff and other children glowingly. We cannot recommend Abbot's Hill Nursery highly enough and we consider the staff and facilities to be of the highest quality.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We have been using the nursery now since our little one turned a year. We’ve been very happy with all aspects from her key worker, the updates we get given, her development, varied activities each day, and the nutrition. Generally, we are really very pleased we choose this nursery and would happily
recommend to others.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved our daughter to Abbot’s Hill Nursery due to issues with the previous nursery she was in. This place is worlds apart, the building is new, clean, bright and airy. The staff are friendly, genuinely interested and engaged with the children. The activities offered stretch the children are varied
and interesting and due to its location, they can offer walks within the grounds and visits to woods. After a previous potty training failure, the staff recognised that she was ready and were supportive and encouraging, enabling her to be dry within a week. Thank you, Abbot’s Hill.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter loves coming to Abbot's Hill. The staff here are very friendly and caring and they seem to put so much effort in to occupy the tiny tots throughout the day. They are doing an absolutely amazing job. Since my daughter has been at the nursery, I can see a vast improvement in her, thanks to
our staff at Abbot's Hill. Big shout out to our daughter's key person, she's been wonderful. Thank you!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

A fabulous nursery, with amazing staff. Our daughter is flourishing here and we look forward to her moving up to the junior school in her years ahead. I really can't fault the nursery, the manager and her team are fabulous.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been attending Abbot's Hill Nursery since she turned one and we are utterly delighted with every aspect of the Nursery - the facilities and setting are stunning, the care the staff take of our little pride and joy is outstanding. Having visited and researched several nurseries in the
area, Abbot's Hill and the services offered far exceed the others. Our daughter's 'key contact person' takes such great care of her, continually challenging and offering her new opportunities. We receive daily updates of her activities and are encouraged to be part of her 'nursery life' as much as possible. We particularly love how every staff member knows our daughter by name - whether they have daily contact with her or not and it puts our minds at rest to see how much she enjoys her days at nursery and the relationships she is developing there. I can not recommend Abbot's Hill Nursery highly enough and we consider it a privilege that our daughter is able to attend!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Abbot's Hill Nursery are brilliant! The nursery manager has created a great environment with a great bunch of people that work in her team. A special shout out to a carer in Tiny Toes and another in Stepping up for their excellent commitment - always wearing a smile and engaging with the
children!
We’re in no doubt that we’ll be bringing our second child to the nursery next year. Please ensure you invest in your current staff to retain them - they really deserve it and are the differentiator with other nurseries in the area.
Only minor negative is the infrastructure/support that the nursery gets from the school - parking has been terrible recently, but hopefully that’s just a blip and will be quickly addressed - don’t let it put you off!

Reply from Rebecca Juster, Deputy Manager at Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School

Thank you for your kind words, it is greatly appreciated by the nursery. Your comment about the staff will be passed onto them-they are a fantastic team who work incredibly hard to provide the high quality of care that the children receive with us. Parking is a slight issue at the moment, as the main school is in phase 2 of their campus development. This means there are major building works taking place on site and some parking has been restricted to allow for building deliveries and machinery to move around the site. We are incredibly lucky to be part of the school and the campus development will only add to the quality of the environment that the children have access to.


Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My little boy has been at Abbot's Hill Nursery for over a year now and his progress has been remarkable. They are engaged and conscientious with lots of care and consideration to his development. There is a wonderful array of interesting activities. Facilities are immaculate and comprehensive. Lovely
team with all members genuinely interested in children.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter has been attending Abbots Hill Nursery for just over one year and we have been delighted with it. All members of the team are extremely professional, knowledgeable and very caring and friendly. The setting is beautiful and our daughter has really enjoyed the playground, outdoor mud kitchen
and the walks taken with her peers.
The food is varied and well enjoyed!
I would most definitely recommend the nursery to anyone considering it.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We got a really good feeling about this nursery from the moment we viewed it and it has lived up to our expectations. All the staff are really friendly and caring - our son loves it there and settled in very easily due to the fact he received the individual attention he needed and sometimes that it
just a good cuddle from one of the lovely staff!
Always a very caring attitude from all the staff. Our son has developed loads since joining there and yet we always feel fully informed of any developments through their online journal Tapestry, updating us on all the different activities they do each day. Great nursery - highly recommended.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Abbot's Hill Nursery ticked all the right boxes for us when we were searching for suitable nurseries for our daughter. She settled in with ease and we never looked back over our decision. The environment is colourful and welcoming, clean and tidy. Staff are all very friendly, would definitely recommend.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our two children attend Abbot's Hill Day Nursery and we couldn't be happier with this setting. The staff are incredibly professional, enthusiastic, organised, warm and caring. Both children settled really quickly. The home-nursery communication is excellent. We would highly recommend Abbot's Hill to
other parents.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son attended nursery for nearly two years. He had such a great time whilst at the nursery. He developed and grew in such a warm and stimulating environment. We would like to highlight that the nursery really helped the children prepare for school. This was invaluable and has made the transition
to reception really easy. The teachers and staff are really focused on the children. You can trust they are receiving the best care and structure during the day. We highly recommend Abbot's Hill Nursery.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Lovely, small, personal nursery. All staff are consistently brilliant. Our daughter loves being there, and we feel so comfortable leaving her there. The use of technology at the nursery - such as fingerprint scanners for security, and an App so you can get updates on what your child is doing, are all
brilliant.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are delighted with the care that our child receives at Abbot's Hill. Our daughter absolutely loves it there and the team are all fantastic. Her development and progress in the time she has been there, has been amazing and a lot of this is down to the attention and care she receives.


The room

she is in is light and spacious with plenty of space to play and lots of things to engage and interact with. We are very happy with our choice of nursery!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our son has been attending Abbot's Nursery now for over six months and he has never once resisted being left with the lovely staff there. I have full confidence in his well-being and safety, and I absolutely love the online updates that we receive each week with his developmental milestones. The food
is probably better than I can make at home and my son is cared for with the utmost expertise at all times. I've recommended this nursery already to my peers and I continue to speak glowingly about our experiences. The nursery is always incredibly clean and tidy - and each day I'm given a full update on our son's experiences. Highly recommended. Thank you.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

This is a lovely nursery in a great location with attentive staff. At the end of my child's day, there is a thorough appraisal and I feel as if any concerns I have are well listened to. My son seems to be very happy - he especially loves his key worker, the food and the daily activities. I would not
hesitate to recommend it. One more bonus - it never ever smells like a nursery - it is always clean and fresh!

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We feel extremely lucky to have found Abbot's Hill Nursery and to have secured places for both our daughters. The facilities are excellent and that it is set in extensive private grounds is a real bonus. However, the thing that sets Abbot's Hill apart is the calibre and dedication of the staff. Whilst
the team has expanded and changed during the eighteen months my eldest has been attending, the management clearly takes time and care over recruitment decisions and we are delighted with the care our child receives.
The breadth of activities is very impressive and my daughter is always excited to attend. Communication between the staff and parents is very good. Updates on my child's progress via the 'Tapestry' system are both informative and the highlight of my working day!
My youngest daughter starts at Abbot's Hill Nursery in a couple of months and I'm confident she will also thrive there.

Facilities / Outside Space

Learning

Resources / Equipment / ICT

Care

Activities

Staff

Food / Nutrition

Management

Cleanliness

Safeguarding

Value for Money

Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.941)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.941) out of 10 for Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School 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 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 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 4.941 for Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School is calculated as follows: ( (193 Excellents x 5) + (8 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 203 Ratings = 4.941

  • 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 Abbot's Hill Day Nursery & Pre-School is based on 17 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 65 number of registered child places is 13, which has been reached with 17 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 (6)

Loading...

Loading

Loading
Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading events

Loading

Meet the Team (3)

Sarah

Sarah Lanchbery

Job Title: Nursery Manager

Joined: 2015

Sarah joined Abbot's Hill Nursery in September 2015, when the nursery was still being built, as Deputy Nursery Manager before taking over the role of Nursery Manager in June 2022.


Bethany

Bethany Yiallouros

Job Title: Deputy Nursery Manager

Joined: 2015

Beth joined the nursery in September 2015 and quickly took on the role of Tiny Toes (6m - 2y) Room Leader before taking on the role of Deputy Nursery Manager in June 2022.


Ashlea

Ashlea Webb

Job Title: Tiny Toes Room Leader and Third in charge

Joined: 2015

Ashlea joined the nursery in October 2015 working as a practitioner in Footsteps (2-3y) room before receiving a promotion to Room Leader of Footsteps. In June 2022 she took over as Room Leader of Tiny Toes (6m - 2y) and Third in charge, deputising for the Nursery Manager and Deputy as required.