Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge

100a Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL4 0BX
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Top 20 award
10 132 Reviews
  • Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge, St Albans
Mount Carmel Kindergarten is a leading nursery school in St Albans, combining preschool education and day care facilities to children aged two years and above.

This nursery school is set in its own purpose-built Norwegian log cabin and located in beautiful green belt countryside. It offers children four distinct activity rooms and a spacious all-weather garden to ignite their curiosity and develop a love of learning.

Mount Carmel Kindergarten has developed its own "carousel" method of teaching, providing children with a balance of structure and choice and ensuring that all their educational needs are met. The highly qualified staff offer children a balance of fun, exploration and challenging activities including weekly country walks and cooking as well as Christmas Nativity plays and summer sports days.   

Flexible all-day sessions are available to children aged two to five years during term time. Holiday clubs are also available to parents, run by Mount Carmel staff for Mount Carmel children.

Mount Carmel Kindergarten has excellent links with local primary schools in St Albans, Harpenden and the surrounding area including St Albans High School, Habasdashas, Aldwickbury and St Columbus.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Gabriella Spooner (Principal)

Admission Information

  • Flexible attendance

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 15

Total Places for Children

  • 50

Age Range

  • from 2 years 1 months
  • to 4 years 11 months

Funding & Fees

  • Children are eligible to join the nursery from the September following their second birthday. We accept all childcare vouchers and Tax-Free Childcare.


    Funding for working parents is only available for parents who meet the eligibility criteria. To find out if you are eligible and apply for the working parents funding you will need to visit the Government website Childcare Choices and apply through your HMRC childcare portal.


    Three year old universal funding is available to all children in the term after their third birthday.


    *Please note that the local authority funding rates for two-year-olds and three-year-olds are not the same. This is reflected in the price disparity between the different age groups.


    Nursery sessions are also available throughout the school holidays.


    To view our fees schedule please see our website.

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-17:00
    Tuesday 08:00-17:00
    Wednesday 08:00-17:00
    Thursday 08:00-17:00
    Friday 08:00-17:00

When Closed

  • Never

Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge Reviews (132)

10

Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge has a Review Score of 10 (10.000) out of 10, based on 14 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge has 132 reviews.

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Review from David K (Father of Child) published on 11 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is, put simply, one of the best nurseries in the country. Their teachers offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to parents/carers for both academic and personal development alike. A family runs this nursery and the staff and pupils are simply an extension of that. What we really like is that
they fully support the children to become confident and independent. This is imperative if our pre-schoolers are to make an easy transition into primary school. I can’t fault them. All the children's key developments are logged, in line with the nursery standards, most of it dated with evidence which parents are able to view via a phone application. The learning platform enables parents and staff alike to make comments and communicate about the children’s learning directly and in a timely fashion. This nursery is at the forefront of technology, they video keys events and write weekly blogs aimed at keeping parents informed of all the otherwise precious moments we would miss.
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Review from Ren B (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has just completed a year at Mount Carmel Kindergarten in the afternoon group - children aged 2-3. His class and both teachers/leaders have been consistent throughout the year which has really helped him to settle and thrive. The children start in the same room each day and they have a 'carousel'
approach - the children move around the nursery in their group and with their teachers into the art room or the large gym or into the large outdoor play garden. The welcome at the door from the nursery manager each day is always bright and cheerful and parents are welcomed in to accompany their child into the room - this has also helped our child settle more quickly. Our child has made many friends and loves counting and recognising colours and his name. We receive feedback after every session and we love Tapestry - an online password protected learning journey with photos. Overall - friendly and professional. One of the best, if not the best, in St Albans in our opinion.
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Review from Rachel (Mother of Child) published on 10 July 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My middle son is currently attending Mount Carmel Kindergarten. His older brother went there 3 years ago and there is no question that his younger brother will go there in 3 years time! It's an absolutely wonderful nursery and I couldn't fault it in any way, both my boys have absolutely loved it!
Everything from sports day to graduation and all the ordinary days in between is done with so much thought and care it's touching. The classes are small which is lovely and the teachers really get to know each child individually. Mount Carmel really know what they're doing when it comes to settling in, both my boys settled really quickly despite having never been left with anyone before. I also think the whole set up of the nursery is amazing for preparing children for school. My eldest is a July birthday but had absolutely no problems when starting school unlike many other summer born boys in his class who really struggled. It's an amazing nursery and I couldn't recommend it more highly.
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Review from Lucy B (Mother of Child) published on 28 March 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel Kindergarten is an outstanding nursery with so many opportunities for pre-school children to learn and develop in. Children are able to move around the nursery doing different activities in different rooms with excellent indoor and outdoor facilities to use and explore all year round. The
staff are exceptional, friendly, enthusiastic and a credit to the establishment. My two children have loved every second here over the last 4 years. 5*.
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Review from Nicola W (Mother of Child) published on 27 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My eldest child started at Mount Carmel in September 2013, my second child is currently at Mount Carmel and my third child is due to start in October this year. From the time I first visited the nursery, I have been very impressed. They have a fantastic structure to the early year's education they offer.
All the staff are incredibly attentive to every child, always very welcoming of every child on arrival.


The children all tend to settle in straight into an activity on arrival. They move rooms depending on the learning they are doing which is great to stimulate different types of learning. My children have always come home feeling energised by their day. The outdoor facilities they have are also fantastic. They have prepared my first two children superbly for school and developed in them, a great appetite for learning.

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Review from Kate P (Mother of Child) published on 24 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A wonderful nurturing nursery where my son has flourished. I just hope his new school can meet the extremely high standards that Mount Carmel Kindergarten has set. I would make sure any new parents have Mount Carmel Kindergarten as top of their list when looking for a nursery.
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Review from Natasha V (Mother of Child) published on 23 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending Mount Carmel for two years.The progress may daughter has made is outstanding. Her confidence and communication along with the ability to listen and learn. They constantly plan different activities for the children making the environment fun and exciting. This family run
business feels like a family a second home. My daughter loves attending and I can view what she gets up to on Tapestry and reading her weekly blog. The grounds are immaculate and the staff are excellent and professional.
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Review from D S (Mother of Child) published on 16 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel has brought out the very best in my son. Through their 'nurture first' approach, focussing primarily on children's happiness and encouraging them to learn through curiosity and play.
Every aspect of the nursery is brilliantly run, from the kind and skilled staff they employ to the carefully
crafted carousel setting, where children move around different classes doing varied activities.
My son was once very shy and I found the teachers really took the time to give him the appropriate nurturing to allow him to flourish.
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Review from Samantha G (Mother of Child) published on 15 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my children have thrived and been well cared for at Mount Carmel Kindergarten. The staff are wonderful and the preparation for school is excellent. I cannot recommend them enough.
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Review from Y A (Grandmother of Child) published on 15 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My grandaughter has attended this nursery for more than two years. The staff are excellent with the children and the management is outstanding. This nursery is highly organised and always immaculate at all times. I am thoroughly amazed at the level of learning, my grandaughter's ability to patiently
listen and learn is superb, all since attending nursery. She has formed a wonderful circle of friends which such lovely, polite children highly recommended.
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Review from Rosalind I (Mother of Child) published on 15 February 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
All three of my children has attended Mount Carmel Kindergarten and all have loved it. It is a truly caring environment, giving each child the opportunity to develop and grow. The structured day means my son knows what to expect and prepares him for his 'big school'. After our first child attended,
there was never any doubt the others would too.
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Review from Flavia L-M (Mother of Child) published on 9 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
After thorough research of the nurseries in St Albans, I decided to send our children to Mount Carmel. I cannot recommend Mount Carmel highly enough. I would summarise my reasons for this as follow:


1. The facilities are purpose built in a beautiful green area. They are perfectly suited to the needs

of the children;
2. The staff are incredibly helpful, caring, friendly and experienced. They are always happy to help and assist with expert educational guidance whenever needed;
3. Regular updates with weekly blogs, newsletters, parent consultations, action photos and individual reports via Tapestry;
4. The nursery is brilliantly managed and organised, with structured activities provided throughout the week. If you require, extra private tuition is also available, which can be very useful for private school entrance test preparation; and
5. Most importantly, the children at Mount Carmel are genuinely happy and their potential and talents are encouraged, stimulated and nurtured.
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Review from Christopher N (Father of Child) published on 7 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel Kindergarten is a fantastic nursery. My second child, who is currently attending, absolutely loves going. There is a warm, friendly environment and a lot of stimulating activities for him. He especially likes the cooking every Friday.
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Review from Shalini D (Mother of Child) published on 25 January 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel Kindergarten is absolutely the best daycare....by far! My daughter fell in love with the place on her first visit. They have weekly blogs and newsletters to keep the parents informed of the various activities performed during the week and how well the children enjoyed which is amazing.
My daughter's vocabulary and confidence has boosted tremendously since she joined the nursery.


The children are also engaged in various activities to get them prepared for their transition to primary school such as phonics, maths, drawing and handwriting skills. One of the things I love the most is the quiet location of the nursery which is surrounded by green playfields away from the main roads and traffic!! Overall, I cannot recommend this nursery highly enough!!

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Review from Carly S (Mother of Child) published on 3 January 2017 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel has transformed my shy/nervous son into a confident little man in just three months. The small class sizes and the numerous staff means the children all receive a lot of attention and certainly helps create a family atmosphere.
The work the staff put into each child, preparing them for
the giant step to "Big school" certainly shines through. It's outstanding on every level, academically, physically, creatively - every subject. They actually teach boys to sit, listen and enjoy writing - outstanding!
I will certainly be sad to end our journey here when it's time to leave in July 2017.
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Review from Fabio G (Father of Child) published on 30 December 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Amazing place with caring staff. My son truly enjoys attending the nursery and my wife and I cannot be happier than we are with the care and the level of attention he receives daily.
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Review from Mary O (Mother of Child) published on 30 December 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are delighted with Mount Carmel it is exceptional in every way and this is evident in all the happy, engaged children. It is a great environment for little ones. It is creative, varied and structured all at once. Our little boy has learned lots, built lovely friends and had great fun along the way.
Management and teachers have a great rapport with parents- it's an honest dialogue and everything feels open for discussion which is appreciated. My son has loved the arts activities, the ample outdoor play and the engagement with the natural world- pet day and crocus planting especially!
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Review from Carrie S (Mother of Child) published on 5 December 2016 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both my children have attended Mount Carmel Kindergarten from the ages of 2-5. I have attended my youngest sons last Christmas nativity play today which was fantastic. It really is a wonderful place and I will be sad when we leave next year. The staff are kind, helpful and enthusiastic. My son loves
baking on a Friday and making soup, bread and sausage rolls are his favourites. Holiday club and extended opening hours have made the return to work easier and the holidays, not such a drama. They particularly love the scooter racing and water play in the summer at holiday club. Communication home is great with weekly blogs and timely reminders about events coming up. The teachers always provide feedback on your child's progress and take time to talk to you. I am looking forward to the sports day and finally the graduation in the summer term. As a local family run nursery with over 30 years experience in childcare, it really is a wonderful place.
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Review from Anthony T (Father of Child) published on 9 August 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Mount Carmel is simply brilliant. Our daughter has been nurtured beautifully and is so happy. She has also learnt a huge amount and gained huge amounts of confidence - nothing could have prepared her for school better. The staff and facilities are both brilliant. There has been lots of fun had in the
wonderful (purpose built) garden, as well as in the brilliantly equipped gym and other inside spaces.
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Review from Tina S (Mother of Child) published on 26 July 2016 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The nursery is forward thinking adapting and improving all the time. They have done an excellent job getting my son ready for school. His is familiar with his phonics and numeracy. We like tapestry which keeps us up to date with EYES and progress our son is making.
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Current Review Score: 10.0 (10.000)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 10 (10.000) out of 10 for Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 14 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 14 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:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 5.000 for Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge is calculated as follows: ( (164 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 164 Ratings = 5
  2. 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 Mount Carmel Kindergarten - Kinder Lodge is based on 14 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 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
    2. 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 50 number of registered child places is 10, which has been reached with 14 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. 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.

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Awards / Recognitions (20)

Meet the Team (9)

Gabriella

Gabriella Spooner

Job Title: Principal/SENCO/DSO Joined: 2008

Gabriella Spooner (nee Federici) has worked in Early Years since 2008 and brings her experience from a number of different roles within the sector. Now as a mother of 2 children, she has gained a new perspective and understanding of the pressures on modern Mums. In her ‘spare’ time she enjoys singing and dancing with the St Albans Musical Theatre Company.


Qualifications: Early Years Professional Status (2013), BA (Hons) Educational Studies and Early Years (2013).

Stefano

Stefano Federici

Job Title: Administration Manager Joined: 2019

Stefano is responsible for admissions, enquiries and nursery administration. He is the go to person for questions regarding fees, funding and sessions. Prior to joining the family business, Stefano taught English to children in Rome and later worked as a commercial manager at Marks and Spencers.


Qualifications: BA (Hons) Italian Studies (2008), Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (2009), Cambridge Certificate of English Language Teaching to Young Learners (2010).

Catherine

Catherine Tarelli

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2019

Qualifications: Ba (Hons) Primary Education with Initial Teacher Training (2003)

Natalie

Natalie Rayment

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2008

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Educational Studies (2014)

Stacey

Stacey Cannell

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2012

Qualifications: CACHE Level 3 Childcare

Karen

Karen Connell

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2019

Qualifications: CACHE Level 3 in Childcare

Ishanka

Ishanka Fernando

Job Title: Nursery Assistant Joined: 2018

Qualifications: CACHE Level 3 in Childcare.

Hannah

Hannah Axworthy

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2019

Qualifications: Level 3 in CACHE Childcare Learning and Development, BA (Hons) Education Studies (2017).

Libby

Libby Carolan

Job Title: Nursery Teacher Joined: 2021

Currently studying level 3 in Cache Childcare.

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