Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Hitchin

Very lovely staff and our son is very happy at Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Hitchin. If they could get that indoor play centre reopened, it would be 10 out of 10 as currently, that's a massive waste of space that could be utilised. I could do with a few more educational toys in the over two's room and problem-solving toys too. However, I would definitely recommend the nursery.

My daughter has been going to Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Hitchin since August 2021 and she has come a long way. She does still get upset when I drop her off but I have been told she does enjoy it when she is there. The staff I have met in the otter's room are very friendly and welcome my little one when she arrives.

The nursery has had a tough year with changes in management and a recent Ofsted inspection, however, I am really pleased with all the work that has been done to address any concerns the inspection raised and I would not hesitate to recommend the nursery to other parents.

My daughter attends preschool at Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Hitchin. The team is passionate, knowledgeable and nurturing. They put on a range of different activities throughout the day and give children lots of autonomy to choose their own activities. They also have the door open with secure access to the garden all year round when not raining, it's great that the kids get fresh air and that space to play. All of the staff are incredibly warm and genuinely care about the emotional and developmental needs of the children in their care. The last year or so has been difficult for the nursery on an administrative/management side - but this is getting better now the manager is back from maternity leave and the transition to Kiddi Caru has bedded in - but this does not detract for me from the excellent care provided by the nursery/preschool staff throughout the facility.

My son loves attending - he is very happy when I drop him off and pick him up. All of the staff have been really good, caring and honest. The handover discussions are detailed. I feel happy knowing my son is safe and looked after properly.

My daughter has attended Kiddi Caru Hitchin since June 2021, during which time the education, care, support, and attention she's received has been excellent. She is excited to attend every day and loves to see her favorite team members and friends.

It would be fair to say that the nursery has had a challenging past year, with changes in management (while the permanent manager was on maternity leave) which I understood to mean that the team weren't always getting the support they needed. However, in the last few months, an overall improvement in their general organisation and ability to provide a full curriculum (through having adequate staffing levels) has been evident.

The determination and tenacity of the team at Kiddi Caru Hitchin is impressive, and their care for my daughter cannot be faulted. I would wholly recommend this nursery to other parents.

Please note that the Ofsted rating for this nursery is now inadequate. Which fits completely with our own experience of placing our son here for a short time. I feel strongly that parents should be aware of this.

Our experience with the nursery couldn't be more positive. They are very caring, helpful and responsive and make sure to involve parents in all activities. Our little had previously been to two other nurseries and it was really upsetting to leave him there as he was not happy. He then started at Kiddi Caru and he is happy all the time. He is excited to go to nursery every day, runs inside as soon as we arrive there and is always happy at the end of the day. Sometimes he even prepares his shoes on weekends and holidays, hoping to go to nursery. It makes such a difference to leave him in a place where it is so clear he is happy. The attention he has from all of the lovely staff has also made a positive impact on his development. I definitely recommend this nursery!

All-round very impressed with the nursery and the main thing is my daughter loves going!

Fantastic nursery! We’ve sent our little one here for 3 years and it’s been brilliant at each stage and really tailored their care to her needs. They have been amazing during the pandemic - really thoughtful to our concerns and understanding when we’ve needed to make changes at the last minute. Would highly recommend!

Our son started at Kinders Mill when he was 8 months old and is now 2 years old. He absolutely loves going to nursery and learns so much when he is there. His talking and singing is amazing and we just love hearing a new song every day when he comes home. The staff are so accommodating and happy and keep us well informed about everything that he does during his day. They were happy to use our cloth nappies and have also supported him through potty training. We feel so happy knowing that he is safe and enjoying every day. With covid lockdown he would not have been able to socialise with his friends, so knowing he is getting this experience at nursery has been brilliant. The safety measures in place have been great.

My son is thoroughly enjoying his time at nursery, he is due to join full time and I have no concerns. We would like to receive more Tapestry updates however can appreciate this can not always be the priority.

My one-year-old son started in July. He is so happy and settled extremely quickly. The nursery staff are excellent - really on the ball and very caring. I have also been very impressed by the management.

My, then 27 months old, little boy started at Kiddi Caru Hitchin in September 2020. His nursery experience had been interrupted by COVID after he left his London nursery in February 2020. To say settling was a challenge is an understatement but the compassion and commitment to welcoming him and familiarising him with the setting was second to none. He has since gone on to develop in every possible way and we are just so delighted with our choice of nursery. The staff are as committed to his wellbeing and progress as we are and have succeeded with some things where we haven't been able to. The manager and her team are a group of highly capable, wonderful human beings and our little boy continues to benefit hugely from their day to day care and attention. He is so very happy at nursery and in my view that is the key indicator. Thank you!

I am very happy with the service provided - my daughter gets excited when we arrive and seems very comfortable and happy during her days at nursery. She enjoys the activities which seem to be varied, fun and educational. I’m sure that the nursery has had a really positive effect on her development. I have always found the staff to be receptive, friendly and helpful.

We wish the nursery every continued success.

It is a very warm and caring nursery. I have sent both of my children there and have always felt that they were well known, and very well cared for. They take part in a wide range of activities and educational activities. Both of my children have always looked forward to their sessions, and on many occasions, it has been hard to g them to come home!

My experience of Kinders Mill is extremely positive. I've never felt more positive about sending my children to nursery and I don't just say this because my wife works at the nursery. At our last nursery, the only reason my son went there was because my wife worked there! but at Kinders Mill all members of staff are approachable, from the management to room staff and cleaners. As a parent, that is what I want from the staff working with my children, at our last nursery the staff would not talk to me as a parent, and on last day at the nursery, a member of staff turned their back on me. All of the staff at Kinders Mill seem to have such a love for working with children they are caring and interested in everything about them and that is seen from the observations received and from the interaction on a face to face value. I was very impressed from when I had my show round with the deputy manager and then even more so when I met the manager on my children's first settle. Well done Kinders Mill!

5 well deserved stars.

Really breaks my heart to say this about Kinders Mill after we were so happy with it for our first child in recent years. Since the nursery was taken over by Kiddi Caru there was a systematic decline in the quality of service provision. There are still some dedicated and skilled carers here and it’s an awful feeling to say this because of our gratitude to them - but unfortunately, since the well-established team under the former management left - we were often handing our child over to agency staff, daily. The look and feel of the facility became tatty and less cared for and even the outside of the building has fallen into a tired state. It seems as though the soul has been given over to a more ‘battery hen’ style - where the function is to make money and not reinvest properly. Outside toys and activities are tired - inside activities cannot be properly planned because staff come and go daily. The downward spiral is really evident and it is heartbreaking.