Best nurseries in Watford
50 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack in the Box at Nascotwood Sessional day care · 30 places · WD17 4YS | Outstanding (2024) |
| 2 | Precious Playdays Sessional day care · 25 places · WD18 7DS | Outstanding (2024) |
| 3 | Bright Little Stars Nursery Full day care · 78 places · WD25 0EA | Outstanding (2023) |
| 4 | The Co-operative Childcare Watford South Full day care · 60 places · WD19 6HJ | Outstanding (2023) |
| 5 | Knutsford Community Pre-school Sessional day care · 28 places · WD24 7ER | Outstanding (2021) |
| 6 | Little Blossom Nursery School (Leavesden) Full day care · 50 places · WD25 0BW | Good (2025) |
| 7 | Little Raccoons Day Nursery Ltd Full day care · 34 places · WD24 7FQ | Good (2025) |
| 8 | Bluebell Pre School Sessional day care · 27 places · WD19 6QX | Good (2024) |
| 9 | Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Watford Junction Full day care · 57 places · WD17 1AB | Good (2024) |
| 10 | The Little Learners Montessori Watford Full day care · 90 places · WD18 0WL | Good (2024) |
| 11 | Orbital Pre School Sessional day care · 30 places · WD25 7QU | Good (2024) |
| 12 | Berrygrove Early Years Centre Full day care · 50 places · WD25 9PW | Good (2024) |
| 13 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Watford Full day care · 46 places · WD18 0HB | Good (2024) |
| 14 | St Luke's Pre-School Sessional day care · 37 places · WD17 3EJ | Good (2024) |
| 15 | St Joseph's Pre-School Sessional day care · 24 places · WD19 7SW | Good (2024) |
| 16 | Building Blocks Preschool Nurseries Ltd Sessional day care · 28 places · WD17 4PY | Good (2023) |
| 17 | Boys & Girls Nursery (Watford) Limited Full day care · 62 places · WD17 2PA | Good (2023) |
| 18 | Little Blossom Nursery School Full day care · 30 places · WD24 4GY | Good (2023) |
| 19 | Charters Nursery Full day care · 94 places · WD5 0GU | Good (2023) |
| 20 | Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Watford Full day care · 72 places · WD17 4NT | Good (2023) |
| 21 | Early Adventures Full day care · 57 places · WD5 0BT | Good (2023) |
| 22 | Breakspeare Community Pre-School Full day care · 32 places · WD5 0LB | Good (2023) |
| 23 | Bright Horizons The Park Day Nursery and Preschool Full day care · 79 places · WD18 7HR | Good (2023) |
| 24 | Toad Hall Nursery Watford Full day care · 100 places · WD17 4LA | Good (2023) |
| 25 | St Mary's Pre-School Sessional day care · 24 places · WD18 0EG | Good (2023) |
| 26 | Squirrels Nursery (Watford Ascot) Full day care · 40 places · WD18 8AD | Good (2023) |
| 27 | Little Furze Pre-School Sessional day care · 30 places · WD19 6NL | Good (2023) |
| 28 | Little Hearts Preschool Sessional day care · 30 places · WD19 5BT | Good (2023) |
| 29 | Bright Horizons Watford Day Nursery and Preschool Full day care · 81 places · WD18 7QR | Good (2023) |
| 30 | The Little Sparkles Preschool Limited Sessional day care · 20 places · WD17 3AD | Good (2022) |
| 31 | Leavesden Montessori House Full day care · 60 places · WD24 5EL | Good (2022) |
| 32 | Teddies Tots Full day care · 73 places · WD24 7UE | Good (2022) |
| 33 | Table Hall Nursery Ltd Full day care · 80 places · WD19 4EH | Good (2022) |
| 34 | Super Steps Nursery Full day care · 38 places · WD17 2PS | Good (2022) |
| 35 | Building Blocks Preschool Nurseries Ltd Full day care · 30 places · WD18 7NN | Good (2022) |
| 36 | Small World Nursery (Watford) CIC Full day care · 52 places · WD18 6AA | Good (2022) |
| 37 | Westfield Pre School Sessional day care · 50 places · WD18 6AE | Good (2022) |
| 38 | The WonderWorks @ Leavesden Full day care · 57 places · WD25 7GS | Good (2022) |
| 39 | Top Place Preschool Sessional day care · 35 places · WD17 2LZ | Good (2022) |
| 40 | Squirrel Nurseries (Watford Lanchester) Full day care · 42 places · WD17 3HD | Good (2022) |
| 41 | Boys & Girls Nursery (Croxley Green) Limited Full day care · 72 places · WD18 8YS | Good (2022) |
| 42 | St Michael's Pre-School Full day care · 30 places · WD25 0NE | Good (2021) |
| 43 | Chalk Hill Pre School Full day care · 20 places · WD19 4DA | Good (2021) |
| 44 | Ashbourne Day Nurseries at Leavesden Full day care · 72 places · WD25 7QZ | Requires improvement (2025) |
| 45 | Ali's Academy Sessional day care · WD18 7JF | Not yet inspected |
| 46 | Buzykidz Limited Sessional day care · 32 places · WD24 5BD | Not yet inspected |
| 47 | Canopy, Frogmore House Nursery Full day care · 76 places · WD17 2HU | Not yet inspected |
| 48 | Stagecoach Watford Sessional day care · WD25 0UU | Not yet inspected |
| 49 | Stagecoach Watford Partnership Sessional day care · WD25 7NX | Not yet inspected |
| 50 | Super Steps Nursery Cortland Sessional day care · 102 places · WD18 8AZ | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Watford?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in East of England, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Watford?
Of 50 nurseries and pre-schools in Watford, 5 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Jack in the Box at Nascotwood, Precious Playdays, Bright Little Stars Nursery.
How much does nursery cost in Watford?
In East of England, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £192 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Watford?
50 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 44 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Neighbourhoods
Carpenders Park · Cassiobury · Central Watford · Garston · Holywell · Leavesden & Garston Manor · Leggatts · Nascot Wood · North Watford · Oxhey · Oxhey Hall & Hayling · South Oxhey · Stanborough · Tudor · West Watford · Woodside & Leavesden Green
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.