Nursery
Grove Cottage’s Ofsted-regulated Special Needs Nursery develops the long-term potential of children with a wide range of additional needs, by providing specialist education and social support at a very early age.
Our Nursery is open from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Monday to Friday, during school term time. We are dedicated to providing a nurturing, fully inclusive environment tailored to children with special educational needs (SEN), focused on growth, learning, and care.
What Our SEN Nursery Offers
We offer a fully inclusive educational and care setting for children with special educational needs, providing:
- Tailored one-to-one support as required
- A wide range of extra-curricular activities
- Fully qualified and experienced staff who regularly liaise with support professionals and therapists
- Strong parental support to ensure each child can thrive
At our nursery, children follow the national Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, all within a setting thoughtfully designed for children with additional needs. Our staff focus on helping children develop essential skills, especially in areas where delays may occur, such as speech and mobility. Meanwhile, we encourage them to build friendships and connect with other children.
Eligibility and Referrals
Parents and specialists (such as visual teams or autism specialists) are welcome to refer children when there is evidence of developmental delay or difficulties in mainstream settings. However, a diagnosis is not necessary. If your child has specific developmental needs, a global developmental delay, or specific medical requirements, we may be able to offer them a place.
Ofsted Approved
We achieved a ‘Good’ rating at our recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024. You can see the report highlights here
If your child is aged 3-4 years, you can use your 15 hours of free government-funded childcare each week at our nursery. Additionally, some two-year-olds may qualify for 15 hours of funding as well. For more information about education, health and social care for children with special educational needs, please visit the Local Offer Website. or more information about free early education, or to find out if you are eligible, please visit the Hertfordshire County Council Website.
Find Out More
We appreciate that choosing the right setting can feel challenging. If you’d like to discuss your child’s needs in more detail or learn more about our nursery, please contact our Nursery Manager, Maria Sims at nursery@mencapgrovecottage.org or call 07523 670880 or 01279 656085 for a confidential chat.
Nursery Staff
Maria Sims
Nursery Manager
Joanne Frost
Nursery SENCO