Open 51 weeks
Open 7.30am - 6.30pm
Recently refurbished
FREE childcare in December
Our semi-rural location in Berkhamsted, just a few minutes from the A41 for easy transport links, is the perfect backdrop for a nursery that focuses on the natural environment and learning opportunities within it. Come and meet the team, have a tour of our nursery in Berkhamsted and learn about what makes our nursery so special.
Whilst not purpose built, the nursery has been sympathetically converted and has benefitted from an extensive refurbishment programme. The jewel for our Berkhamsted nursery children is the large outdoor garden which gives them the very best in free-flow access to indoor and outdoor environments.
Outside, the children are free to explore nature; making use of the bird hide and willow-den as well as tending the vegetable plot and growing their own plants. The large covered outdoor classroom also allows children the opportunity to access the curriculum in a different environment.
View Ofsted report
The Brighter Learning Approach (BLA) is unique to The Old Station Nursery group and is our advanced approach to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and core pedagogy. It differs from traditional nursery teaching methods by providing real-life opportunities to enhance children’s natural curiosity, with emphasis on hands-on experiences, child-led learning, and whole development.
The six core areas promote active engagement and critical thinking whilst encouraging exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Each child learns at their own pace and is challenged and extended at appropriate times.
The best place to see the BLA in action is via our local nursery Facebook page, where each post explains which part of the curriculum the children are working on. Our parents also receive updates on the Parent App too.
Championing children's holistic health and laying the foundations for a happy, healthy and successful life.
Helping the future generation of global citizens to understand the world they live in and to believe they can make a difference.
Enabling early experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). Nurturing our next generation of investigators, inventors and innovators.
Enticing children to develop a life-long love of books and reading through engaging and interactive storytelling experiences. Building strong literacy skills while sparking imagination and creativity.
Engaging children in meaningful mathematical learning. Developing knowledge, building skills and exploring concepts, through purposeful play and plenty of practice.
Developing confident communicators by engaging in quality conversations with children every day, in a language rich and communication friendly environment.
Activities at our Berkhamsted nursery free-flow between indoor and outdoor learning, making the most of our outdoor classroom whenever we can. When you come for a nursery tour be sure to visit our willow-den and see the seasonal vegetables in our garden plot. We hold numerous extra clubs throughout the week that enhance our Brighter Learning Approach which is our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework.
Come rain or shine, we tend our vegetable plots, teaching the children about the different stages of growth cycles and exploring the different tastes and textures of the produce.
As budding gardeners, children learn about the environment and gain lifelong sustainable growing skills and enjoyment, which they will carry with them throughout their lives.
At Berkhamsted nursery, our Budding Movers enjoy Boogie Beats, a fast-paced dance class that our nursery children and the staff thoroughly enjoy.
The class combines music and dance with carefully structured learning that helps to develop co-ordination and confidence whilst having lots of fun.
Children learn so much during their early years and take great joy in exploring the world around them. Starting in baby room and through to Pre-school, Berkhamsted’s nursery children learn about different materials, how to problem solve, observe and predict; always being encouraged to ask questions about the world around them.
Being present and in the moment is a life-skill that sadly us adults often forget about as we age. Introducing children to mindfulness practices at a young age helps the children regulate their emotions and may support a lifelong awareness of self-reflection and our impact on others.
Our children love nothing more than when the team calls time for meal preparation or works with the children to produce a teatime dessert or baking morning. The children learn so much in these activities including measuring, counting skills and following instructions.
At Berkhamsted nursery our Budding Movers dive into a variety of activities including dance, sports, and beyond. These engaging experiences are adored by both children and practitioners, seamlessly integrating movement with structured learning to enhance coordination, build confidence, and foster a sense of joy at nursery.
At our Berkhamsted nursery Budding Artists are encouraged to explore their creativity through activities such as painting, drawing, and crafts. With a host of resources available, children are encouraged to experiment with colours and textures, and create imaginative masterpieces that showcase their unique talents.
Budding musicians can explore different instruments at our nursery, as well as enjoying rhythmic games, and participating in interactive sing-along sessions. They’ll discover the joy of creating melodies, understanding beats, and expressing themselves through music. Each activity is carefully crafted to inspire a love for music and develop their auditory skills in a fun and engaging environment.
Our nursery group is passionate about the link between home and nursery; the nursery experience is as much about the parent as it is for the child. Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted commits to verbally updating you about your child’s day at pick-up time and via digital updates on the parent App.
We are here at any time should you wish to call us or want to discuss any area of your child’s care and we aim to look after our parents as well as our children so you can carry on with your day, work and career with a sense of peace.
First and foremost, you and we need to know that your child is safe. Before we can deliver the excellent curriculum that makes our nurseries so special, robust policies and procedures are followed to meet the exacting standards of Ofsted, building and fire regulations, food safety standards and staff DBS background checks and references.
Our staff are trained in numerous areas and we offer further training opportunities for staff who have an interest in a particular area. For example, some of our nurseries have attained Millie’s Mark, an accreditation gained by having 100% of staff on site trained in paediatric first aid.
Nutritious hot meals are prepared on-site at Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted by our cook and menus are rotated every three weeks. Good nutrition is essential during childhood as it is a time of rapid growth, development and activity.
Our chefs are trained using the Eatwell NHS guidelines to ensure mealtimes are delicious, packed with good things that enjoyable for children to eat.
Every child has a nursery key person who knows them best and who will be the child and parent’s main contact. Your key person at our nursery will update you about your child’s day and is there to answer your questions.
When your child moves to the next age group room, we hold several settling sessions with a new nursery key person. We encourage our parents to view the new room too, and we will work with you to discuss the new routines, just like we did when you first started nursery.
It is wonderful to nurture and see our children graduate to primary school. Part of the unique offering of Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted is our focus on the next stage of your child’s learning journey.
We prepare the children through school activities, teacher meet and greets and graduation ceremonies.
Our commitment is to support our parents too by providing child learning journey updates, parents evenings or one-to-ones and home link learning kits to enhance the link between nursery and home.
All our nurseries follow the Brighter Learning Approach, our bespoke version of the Early Years Statutory Framework. Within this, each nursery chooses extra clubs, activities, and enhancements suitable for their space.
Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted enjoys multiple clubs including Budding Gardeners, Budding Movers, Budding scientists, mindfulness and cooking clubs.
We also hold open days where parents and carers are encouraged to come along and meet other parents to build their own personal friendships and networks ahead of primary school.
Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted commits to providing a simple fee structure so you can manage your nursery costs.
At this nursery, we provide private and government-funded sessions for eligible parents. Contact us for the nursery fee that is correct for your individual circumstances.
Our baby ‘Stars’ are aged 0-15 months. The emphasis in Stars is to establish strong key person bonds to help with the transition of nursery life. We continue the routine you have devised at home to give the babies consistency and a homely environment to make them feel safe. As baby grows and your routine at home changes, we will change with you.
At Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted, we pride ourselves on our parent and nursery relationships ensuring we work together as a team. When you first join us, we encourage you to come for as many settling-in sessions as you feel you need.
As children begin to form friendships and preferences, the Twinkle Stars room is designed to allow children the opportunity explore both the inside and outside environments to support their growing understanding of spatial awareness.
Our Sunbeams have a growing sense of independence and are encouraged to make guided choices supporting their individual selves as their personalities shine through. Here language development really comes to the forefront.
Our Comet room is a wonderful, fun environment. Our children fine tune their skills and begin to develop emotional intelligence, often forming friendships and learning to get on with others.
The children begin to learn about their own capabilities whilst being gently encouraged by the team to try new experiences.
When they are ready, children progress to the Planets room where we focus on school readiness, ensuring that children transition to school being the most confident and prepared that they can be.
This includes meeting their Primary school teachers, looking at the uniform, dressing for PE, holding a pencil and learning to read. Coping with change and being able to adapt to different situations is a key part of the environment here. Our Berkhamsted nursery children are empowered to be independent thinkers who can question the world around them.
We’re excited to extend our ‘Free December’ offer to new families who register and start at our nursery by the 30th of September 2024. If you secure your child’s place before the 30th of September 2024, you’ll enjoy December 2024 free of charge—a perfect holiday gift for your family. Don’t miss out on this limited-time opportunity. View terms and conditions.
“At Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted, you will find a committed and dedicated team of staff who care as much about you as we do your child. You’ll be sure to receive a warm and friendly welcome from a nursery who can offer you a truly flexible approach to your childcare needs."
Jan Weall, Nursery Manager, Sunhill Day Nursery Berkhamsted
Please note that this is not a confirmation of your tour. One of our nursery team will endeavour to get back to you ASAP to confirm your date and time. Thank you.
If you are looking to arrange a tour within the next 48 hours, we recommend calling the nursery directly.