Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd

Burford Way, Hitchin SG5 2UZ
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9.8 43 Reviews
  • Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd, Hitchin
Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd has been committed to providing exceptional care and education for children aged three months to five years since 1993.

The small and homely nursery offers a safe and stimulating environment that allows children to thrive. Children are divided into age groups, allowing each child to learn and grow at their own pace.

There are four different rooms for the age groups, which are carefully designed to ensure each child receives the right level of education at the right time, creating a sound learning foundation in their early years in readiness for starting school.

Smartys Day Nursery has an extremely loyal team, which Smartys are proud of; with majority of the staff members being part of Smartys from between 5 and 25 years.
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Type of Service

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

Owner

  • Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
  • Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned

Person in Charge

  • Romina Whitelock (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 20

Registered Charity Number

  • 1148733

Total Places for Children

  • 59

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • Smartys continue to be part of the Government childcare support schemes (funded hours).
    The government funding can only be used for the core element of childcare hours provided and not for additional services such as food and other consumables.
    ?   Tax-Free Childcare Scheme - which is available to around 2 million households. You can open an online account which you can pay into to cover your cost of childcare, for every 80p you pay in the government will top up your account with an extra 20p. To find out more about this scheme please go to: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/childcare-schemes-interest-welcome
    ?   9-23 months free childcare – (Eligibility Criteria) for working families
    ?   Free early education for 2-year-olds (Eligibility Criteria) for working families and supported families
    ?   Free early education and childcare for 3- and 4-year-olds (15 universal hours) – All families
    ?   30 Free hours of free childcare (Eligibility Criteria) for working families

  • Fees are calculated either by: Per day, AM session (8am-1pm) or PM session (1pm-6pm) based on the attendance pattern taken.
    Additional hours, the Early bird 7.30am start and the Twilight finish of 6;30pm can be added onto the attendance pattern.
    Please refer to the nursery website for the current Fee Structure. The nursery fees are reviewed annually, around the month of April.
    Last Review Date: April 2025

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & 1 week at Christmas

Parking

  • There is a free public car park in front of the nursery.

Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd Reviews (43)

9.8

Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.833) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd has 43 reviews.

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Reviewer Connection to Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
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Total of 43, showing 21-40
Review from E S (Mother of Child) published on 21 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter is happy and well-settled at Smartys. She really enjoys the jelly tots room, and we enjoy that the nursery is in a quiet area. She always comes back with news of the day, and they have really supported her speech.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
It truly is lovely to see how well-settled your daughter is now, following a wobbly transition into nursery life. I can reiterate that she really does love being at nursery, engaging in every activity…read more
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Review from A H (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter attends Smartys. She’s been there for a year, having joined from another nursery when she was just over 1. She is very happy there - she has made friends, and the staff and wonderful and nurturing. Her speech, eating and socialising have developed brilliantly since she’s been there. The
outside space is lovely and feels lovely and open as it’s next to a large field.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. The review and comments are valuable to us all at Smartys. We are pleased to hear that you are happy.
It really is so lovely to see how well your…read more
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Review from Jonathan I (Father of Child) published on 9 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at Smartys have helped my eldest child, and still are helping my youngest child, to learn the value of play and security in an environment staffed by kind people who genuinely care about children. For me, as a parent of young children, it is this kindness and caring that makes the difference,
and I feel happy leaving my child knowing that there are people, who I trust to look after my kids.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Having a sibling join us always means a great deal to us. Your review means just as much to us also.
We appreciate you taking the time to leave your kind comments, opinion and thoughts of all at…read more
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Review from L S (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We only started at the nursery at the beginning of the year, but everyone at Smartys has been very welcoming and has put us at ease. It's been a little bit bumpy with illnesses, but the staff have been excellent and really looked after my little one and always kept in touch.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We are grateful for your positive feedback; as one of our very newest parent/family to Smartys.
We completely understand how daunting it can…read more
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Review from Julie C (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending Smartys for nearly two years now. The staff are wonderful, kind and caring, and you can see they really do care about the children. As a nursery, they are flexible and considerate of every child’s needs. My son has allergies, and they have been amazing with him. My eldest went
to another nursery, and we wish we sent him here; the contrast between the care between the two is startling. There is such a lovely family feel here. There isn’t a huge turnover in staff, which I’ve seen happen elsewhere. I recommend it to all of my friends. It gives us such reassurance to know how happy my son is. Parking is easy, and the flexibility is great. Thank you, Smartys!
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us. Knowing that you are happy is just as important as ensuring that your child is just as happy here with us at Smartys.
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 9 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I'm so happy our son is at Smartys Day Nursery. He loves going, and the staff obviously make a lot of effort to make sure he feels happy and secure. They offer a wide range of activities, and he gets a lot of outdoor time. He recently moved up to an older room, and the staff made sure the transition
was smooth. I would highly recommend sending your kids here!
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you so much. We really value the positive review and are happy to hear that you feel so happy with us at Smartys.
Transitions can be tricky, so we will always do our best to cater to the needs…read more
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Review from H B (Mother of Child) published on 30 May 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My child has been attending the setting since April 2021. She attends two mornings a week, term time only, which works perfectly around my term-time only job. All staff are friendly and approachable, and management goes out of their way to help with anything. Communication is very good, and although
we only attend part-time, we are very much made to feel part of the "Smartys" family. She takes part in a wide range of activities and has gained a lot more confidence since attending. She often tells me what she has learnt at nursery. Handover at the end of the day is informative, and I like that all staff in her room know my child and make us both feel very welcome. I would recommend Smartys to other parents.
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Review from P C (Father of Child) published on 27 October 2021 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have had children attending Smartys Day Nursery since 2015 and have always been very happy with the service and care given by staff. Staff genuinely seem to enjoy caring and spending time with the children, and my children have always been very happy at Smartys, which is obviously an important diagnostic
of a nurseries quality. Management has always been very flexible and understanding of the challenges facing parents of young children - very appreciated.
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Review from Suzannah K (Mother of Child) published on 14 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery, I’d wholly recommend it to anyone. I have sent all four of my children here and think it’s fabulous . It is a caring, safe, educational and fun setting. My children have been really well looked after.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you so much for your review. Having all four of the children with us - as part of Smartys has truly been amazing; and is such a great testimony within itself. The children and their parent's…read more
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Review from Eleanor S (Mother of Child) published on 28 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
A wonderful, caring nursery with fantastic, observant staff who care so much about the children's wellbeing and learning. The manager has been so incredibly organised during this pandemic and ensured the optimum safety of everyone.
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Review from Laura W (Mother of Child) published on 19 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter really enjoys coming here, this is my second child that has gone through Smartys and I couldn't recommend it enough. Management is excellent and very helpful. There is a variety of toys and lovely garden space.
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Review from A S (Mother of Child) published on 8 December 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little one has been going to Smartys for just over a year now. The manager and all staff are very professional and supportive. One lady especially has shown excellent care and support at the start of our journey at nursery when settling in was challenging. She gave excellent face to face support
and also regular emails. I can't fault the service.
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Review from A I (Mother of Child) published on 8 December 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have been delighted with the care Smartys has provided for our son over the last 2 years. All the staff are kind, friendly and motivated. They seem happy working there and there's a nice sense of team spirit. Management - particularly through the Covid crisis - has been excellent. Fair, good communication,
and sensible decision-making. My son is happy there, and I have no concerns sending my daughter too when she's old enough.
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Review from M B (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Smartys is a kind, caring and stimulating environment. All of my three children went to Smartys and have thrived there. The staff are fun, knowledgable and professional. A big bonus is the wonderful tidy rooms, excellent garden and lots of nature all around it. I would thoroughly recommend Smartys to
any parent/carer.
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Review from D P (Mother of Child) published on 10 November 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our eldest son attended first, no hesitation in our youngest following in his footsteps. All the staff are caring and nurturing. Both boys have thrived at Smartys.
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Review from Carly G (Mother of Child) published on 20 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We looked around lots of different nurseries and childminders when I was returning to work when my daughter was 1 year old. Smartys Day Nursery stood out for many different reasons, for the friendly, caring, homely environment. The nursery has a very stable team of staff, who care deeply about the enjoyment
and welfare of the children and we are really happy with the quality of care provided.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you for your lovely comments on your review.
The happiness of our children and parents means the world to all of the team at Smartys.
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Review from Louise C (Mother of Child) published on 14 October 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our third child is about to start at Smartys, so they're definitely doing something right! We've always found it to be a great nursery for our children, the setting is brilliant, the staff are caring and the children are always happy to go. Management is really good too, attentive and accommodating.
A brilliant nursery all round.
Reply from Romina Whitelock, Manager at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you for your review. It really does mean a lot to us here at Smartys. We love that we have number three with us now and that she is settling in so happily.
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Review from Caithriona H (Mother of Child) published on 29 July 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I must say the staff here have been amazing! Especially whilst settling in my second baby and supporting my return to work.
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Review from A A (Mother of Child) published on 1 May 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was very nervous about leaving my son with strangers when it was time for me to return to work. I looked around all the nurseries in Hitchin and chose Smartys because of the home from home setting and the friendly, caring and supportive staff. My son has attended this nursery since he was 11 months
old and he has thrived and learnt so much both academically and socially. This nursery is unique in that it is a small and cosy setting and has a very stable staff team, unlike other nurseries that seem to have a very high turnover of staff. The staff are extremely caring and never made me feel like I was a nuisance, despite the fact I always asked lots of questions and was over anxious about the care and wellbeing of my son. The nursery also has a parent committee which allows parents to have hands-on involvement in the nursery. I would like to thank all staff at Smartys for their outstanding work and commitment to the care of the children and parents.
Reply from Romina Whitelock at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
Thank you for your review and comments, along with being an active helping hand on the PC.
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Review from Claire W (Mother of Child) published on 12 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
After looking around most nurseries in Hitchin, my husband and I decided on Smartys Day Nursery the moment we walked in. Our daughter has severe hip dysplasia and we were assured from the outset that this was a condition they had experience with and could accommodate her needs. Since starting, Smartys
staff have gone out of their way to ensure our daughter's best interests, and she loves her time there. We can't praise our key worker enough. The activities are varied and the play is Montessori based. We are updated regularly on our daughter's progress and could not ask for more. The rates are fair, the menus varied and nutritious. We love the way they operate and would recommend highly!
Reply from Romina Whitelock at Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd
We know it has been a rough ride of late; so your comments and review mean a great deal to us in respect of the work we do as a whole team for not only the families but is of a true reflection on the…read more
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.833)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.833) out of 10 for Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 20 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 20 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 4.833 for Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd is calculated as follows: ( (201 Excellents x 5) + (38 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 240 Ratings = 4.833
  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 Smartys Day Nursery (Hitchin) Ltd is based on 20 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 59 number of registered child places is 11.8, which has been reached with 20 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

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Awards / Recognitions (1)

Meet the Team (0)

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