Understanding the Ofsted inspection changes
Ofsted are making important changes to the way that they inspect and rate children's services and childcare settings; learn what these are and what they mean for families.
Shepherds Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School, Rickmansworth
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, Partou Shepherds Lane provides high-quality early years care and education to families throughout Rickmansworth.
Our purpose-built setting is supported by an exciting curriculum and highly skilled practitioners, creating the perfect environment for children to learn and develop key skills.
Facilities
Fantastic indoor environments with age-specific rooms, encouraging consistent development for each child
A fantastic community spirit as staff creates a sense of belonging for every child
Healthy and delicious meals from our seasonal menu, freshly prepared at the nursery
Large outdoor area, filled with a wide range of resources that can be used to explore, play, and let imaginations run loose
Excellent parent partnerships, keeping you informed on your child’s progress every step of the way
Funded childcare places available
Nursery fees
| Full-day (2 sessions) |
Weekly rate | Early start session | Morning session | Afternoon session | School day session | |
| Session time | 8.00am-6.00pm | 8.00am-6.00pm daily | 7.30am-8.00am | 8.00am-1.00pm | 1.00pm-6.00pm | 8:30am-3:30pm |
| 0-2 year olds | ||||||
| Care | £83.00 | £373.50 | £12.45 | £49.80 | £49.80 | N/A |
| Meals & snacks | £9.85 | £49.25 | £5.20 | £4.65 | N/A | |
| Consumables | £3.15 | £15.75 | £1.65 | £1.50 | N/A | |
| Total | £96.00 | £438.50 | £56.65 | £55.95 | N/A | |
| 3+ year olds | ||||||
| Care | £68.50 | £308.25 | £12.45 | £41.10 | £41.10 | £57.55 |
| Meals & snacks | £9.85 | £49.25 | £5.20 | £4.65 | £5.20 | |
| Consumables | £3.15 | £15.75 | £1.65 | £1.50 | £1.65 | |
| Total | £81.50 | £373.25 | £47.95 | £47.25 | £64.40 | |
Upon registration, you will be asked to pay a £75 registration fee (non-refundable) or a £75 registration deposit to reserve your child’s nursery place (see terms and conditions for eligibility).
What’s included in our fees?
Our full fees are clearly broken down into care, meals & snacks and consumables fees for full transparency.
Care fees include: trained, qualified team members taking care of your child, regular updates about your child and their progress at nursery, a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities tailored to the needs of your child, and use of the nursery building facilities.
Meals & snacks fees cover the cost of all food and drinks whilst your child is in our care. Meal and snack times are a very important part of Partou nursery life, learn more about how we make food and nutrition enjoyable and educational for children in our care.
Consumables include; important daily care items needed such as nappies, wet wipes and sun cream.
Discounts
Only one discount can be applied at any time:
- 5% discount for eldest child for siblings.
- 5% discount for Blue Light Card holders.
Other key information
- We’re closed on Bank Holidays.
- We’re closed between Christmas and New Year.
- Charges apply across 52 weeks of the year, including Bank Holidays.
Funded childcare
Partou Shepherds Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School is proud to offer funded childcare places
Funded childcare is a government incentive fulfilled by Local Authorities which aims to provide financial support for eligible families accessing childcare at an OFSTED registered setting. Partou Shepherds Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School work with Heretfordshire Local Authority to apply childcare funding for eligible families.
Funding typically covers 15 or 30 hours per week for the 38 term weeks of the year across a maximum of 10 hours a day which will be applied in different ways depending how many weeks of the year your child is in childcare:
- Children who are in year-round childcare will receive “stretched” funding. This means that their 15/30 hours over 38 weeks will be stretched over 51 weeks of the year so children accessing year round childcare at Partou Shepherds Lane will receive 11.17/22.35 hours of funded childcare per week.
- Children who have term-time only childcare places will receive 15/30 hours funding per week over 38 weeks of the year. Term-time only places are limited and are subject to availability.
Government funding for childcare only applies to the care fee (as described above). Meals & snacks and consumables fees are fully chargeable for all sessions including funded.
Many families are eligible for government funded childcare, see our childcare funding guide for more information.
Term duration and dates
The 2025/2026 terms dates set by Hertfordshire for Partou Shepherds Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School are below so you can see which term dates funding is applicable for:
|
|
Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
| Term Duration | 14 Weeks | 11 Weeks | 13 Weeks |
| 1st Half Term Dates | 8th Sept – 24th Oct | 5th Jan – 13th Feb | 13th April – 22nd May |
| 2nd Half Term Dates | 3rd Nov – 19th Dec | 23rd Feb – 27th March | 1st June – 17th July |
Please note that when you access funding in the term can impact the hours you are eligible for within that term period.
Our team will be able to assist you with any funding and term questions you may have.
)
Shepherds Lane
Day Nursery
& Pre-school
01923 490175
Mon - Fri, 7.30am to 6.00pm (excl. bank holidays)
Shepherds Ln, Mill End, Rickmansworth WD3 8JJ
View on map
What do families say about Partou Shepherds Lane Day Nursery & Pre-School in Rickmansworth?
Overall rating
87%
13%
0%
0%
0%
Charlie B
03 November 2025
We are so happy with our experience with Partou. All of the team are amazing, and our little boy loves going. He's always happy to go in, and always looks very happy playing with his friends and teachers when we pick him up. They offer great meals for the children, and are always are doing different ...
D M
31 October 2025
Overall excellent care for my child. The staff are genuinely caring and about my child and his development. I'm Good facilities (esp outdoor space). I'm always impressed with the creativity and energy the staff bring to their job every day. I always get good reports about how my child's day went. ...
Simon D
17 June 2025
Our daughter has been at the nursery from 12 months to nearly 3 years old, and it's been a great experience overall. Her key workers and room assistants have shown her so much love and care-she's built strong bonds with them, and we'll all miss them dearly. She's kept busy with fun, developmental act...
Gemma C
30 August 2023
My son has just had his last day at Daybreak Shepherds Lane after spending nearly 2 years attending there. The staff are fantastic; they build up such a good relationship with both the children and parents. The outdoor space is great, and they get the little ones out there as much as possible. They...
Kurt S
07 August 2023
Our ten-month-old son has started at Daybreak Nursery, and as a new parent, I was very nervous about the whole experience. On arrival of my tour, the manager made me feel at peace, was very articulate and went into great detail about their particular approach and standards. The nursery seemed very na...
Jasmin M
30 May 2023
My daughter has been attending the nursery since she was 1 years old and absolutely loves it! When I was looking around for a nursery to send my daughter to I went from how I felt the staff and children were in the setting and I felt here you could tell the staff really care and the environment felt ...
R J
25 April 2023
My grandson has been attending daybreak since he was 2 years old and I’ve been very impressed with the care he has received. He is always so happy when we collect him and chats away about what he has been up to, which is great to hear all of the learning happening from there. The staff are always...
J P
25 April 2023
A great setting with staff and management! Daybreak Nursery has been taking care of my son for the past eighteen months and under their care my son has been able to develop in all areas. Children in the nursery are constantly challenged and driven towards learning while having fun at the same time. ...
C S
25 April 2023
We love Daybreak, my daughter is always happy to come. Staff are friendly and helpful and the children do great activities.
E C
25 April 2023
Really happy with Daybreak Nursery, my child is very happy and content. Staff are very good and happy place.
P H
25 April 2023
We are so happy with the quality of care our son receives at Daybreak. The staff are caring, nurturing and so kind. Our son has made amazing progress since joining over a year ago. The staff put in a lot of effort to create activities according to the children's interests and my son comes home beamin...
K H
21 April 2023
Since starting at Daybreak Nursery our son has enjoyed every single day. He has formed some wonderful friendships, and you can tell every single teacher really does care about the children, and gets to know each of them on a one to one level. Their learning is tailored around their interests which r...
Hannah B
18 April 2023
Our child has been going to Daybreak Nursery for nearly two years and we have always been happy with how they care for him. They were very patient and caring when he first started and helped him settle really well. He has since thrived while being there and loves going to nursery and speaks so fondly...
Charlotte B
23 March 2023
Daybreak has been truly amazing for us. Our eldest has been with them since ten months of age, and our youngest started with them at the age of seven months. The nursery has been an integral part of our children's development, and we are grateful for the support they have given us as a family.
Melody S
17 August 2022
I have been so happy with the care Daybreak Nursery has given to my nephew. He has always been so happy to go in in the morning and loves telling me about his day in the evenings, and as his carer, this gives me such comfort knowing he is happy! Great parent/carer communication, I would thoroughl...
Why Partou?
For us at Partou, childcare isn’t just a job, it’s a journey – one where every child leads us in a unique new direction.
As part of the Netherlands’ largest childcare group, we’ve access to world-leading expertise in learning and development, so you can be confident your child will benefit from an experience as unique as they are.
Of course, care is as much about empathy as education, and ours is a child-led approach that emphasises building confidence and curiosity – so that every child in our care has the freedom to flourish.
Reassurance for you and your little one
Care
We’re more than just a team; we’re a close community driven by our passion for childcare, and our commitment to each individual child’s development. We know that by working together, we’re stronger.
Compassion
In our community, compassion isn’t just a word; it’s our way of life. By embracing our differences, we make our community more diverse and vibrant. We build strong, supportive relationships with the children and each other, based on trust and understanding.
Continuous learning
We believe strongly in development, for the children in our care and for ourselves. Through continuous learning, we help our team and our children reach their full potential. Together, we make a positive impact, in our communities and across wider society.
Knowledge hub
Benefits of music in early childhood education
From nursery rhymes to dancing games, music helps your child grow. Learn how music in early years education supports development in fun, meaningful ways.
Personal, social and emotional development
Why PSED is so important in early years?
Some of the most fundamental skills in life are the things we learn early on. Understanding and managing emotions, building positive relationships and developing a sense of self-awareness are among them, and these are all examples of personal, social...