# Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool is a full-day nursery at Peel House, 15 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL, in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. It is registered for 52 children. It opens 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri. Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection in October 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It has a Google rating of 4.5 from 17 reviews (November 2026). It is run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/bright-horizons-harpenden-central-day-nursery-and-preschool-ey289502 Last checked 13 November 2026. ## At a glance - Type: Full-day nursery - Address: Peel House, 15 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL - Opening hours: 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri - Registered places: 52 - Phone: 01582 762981 - Website: https://www.brighthorizons.co.uk/our-nurseries/harpenden-central-day-nursery-and-preschool - Run by: [Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/bright-horizons-family-solutions-limited) - Ofsted URN: EY289502 ## Ofsted and official records Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection on 25 October 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. - Quality of education: Outstanding - Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding - Personal development: Outstanding - Leadership and management: Outstanding Safeguarding effective. Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY289502 Official records: - Ofsted registration: Registered since June 2004 (Reference EY289502). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY289502) - Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 25 October 2022). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY289502) - Registered places: 52 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY289502) - Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 17 October 2025). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1813749) ## Fees Fees and ages: not published yet. ## Hours and ages - Monday to Friday: 07:30–18:30 ## Getting there Address: Peel House, 15 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4EL Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.816050,-0.353773 - Station: Harpenden, 0.1 miles - 20 bus stops within 400 m - Park: Harpenden Common, 0.1 miles - Park: Rothamsted Park, 0.2 miles - Park: Lydekker Park, 0.3 miles - Playground: Playground, 0.3 miles NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026. ## Places and next steps Spaces: not published yet. In Hertfordshire there are about 2.9 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021. When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery ## Ratings - Google: 4.5 out of 5 from 17 reviews (as of 13 November 2026) ## Nearby schools Distances are in a straight line. | School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Harpenden Academy | Primary | 4–11 | Improved significantly (February 2025) | | under 0.1 miles | | St Nicholas CofE VA Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (March 2022) | | 0.2 miles | | St Dominic Catholic Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Outstanding (November 2023) | yes | 0.3 miles | | St Hilda's School | | 2–11 | | yes | 0.5 miles | | Crabtree Infants' School | Primary | 4–7 | Outstanding (February 2024) | | 0.5 miles | | Crabtree Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | Outstanding (November 2023) | | 0.6 miles | | Manland Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (Improving) (June 2024) | | 0.6 miles | | High Beeches Primary School | Primary | 5–11 | School remains Outstanding (June 2023) | | 0.8 miles | ## Nearby nurseries | Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---| | [United Reformed Church Pre-School and Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/united-reformed-church-pre-school-and-nursery-123612) | Outstanding | | | under 0.1 miles | | [Whanau Day Nursery Harpenden](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/whanau-day-nursery-harpenden-ey389549) | Good | | 07:30–18:30 | 0.2 miles | | [Busy Bees Day Nursery at Harpenden Leyton Road](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/busy-bees-day-nursery-at-harpenden-leyton-road-123607) | Good | | 07:30–18:30 | 0.2 miles | | [Friends Together](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/friends-together-ey472887) | Outstanding | | 07:45–18:00 | 0.5 miles | | [Harpenden Day Nursery and Pre School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/harpenden-day-nursery-and-pre-school-2826207) | | | 07:30–18:30 | 0.5 miles | | [Fingertips Woodland Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/fingertips-woodland-nursery-2577665) | Outstanding | | 08:00–17:00 | 0.5 miles | ## Frequently asked questions ### What are Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool's opening hours? Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool opens 07:30–18:30, Mon–Fri. ### What is Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool's Ofsted rating? Ofsted rated Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool Outstanding at its inspection on 25 October 2022, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. ### How many children can Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool take? Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool is registered with Ofsted for up to 52 children at any one time. ### Who runs Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool? Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool is run by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Limited, which runs 245 nurseries. ### What is the nearest station to Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool? Harpenden is the nearest station we know of, 0.1 miles away in a straight line. ### How do I contact Bright Horizons Harpenden Central Day Nursery and Preschool? You can call 01582 762981 and visit www.brighthorizons.co.uk. ## Sources - Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY289502) - Rating and review themes: Google, as of 13 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Bright+Horizons+Harpenden+Central+Day+Nursery+and+Preschool&query_place_id=ChIJYz2TNFw4dkgRew_nHy7DnBM) - Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/) Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.