# Play Aloud St Andrews

Play Aloud St Andrews is a sessional pre-school at St Andrews C of E Primary School, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, SG4 9RD, in Sunnyside, Hertfordshire. It is registered for 78 children. Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection in February 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/play-aloud-st-andrews-ey468316  
Last checked 30 June 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Sessional pre-school
- Address: St Andrews C of E Primary School, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, SG4 9RD
- Registered places: 78
- Ofsted URN: EY468316

## Ofsted and official records

Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection on 2 February 2023, 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/EY468316

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since August 2013 (Reference EY468316). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY468316)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 2 February 2023). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY468316)
- Registered places: 78 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY468316)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: St Andrews C of E Primary School, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, SG4 9RD

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.950545,-0.264669

- Station: Hitchin, 0.2 miles
- 10 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Ransom's Recreation Ground, 0.3 miles
- Park: Windmill Hill, 0.3 miles
- Park: Halsey Green, 0.4 miles
- Park: Bancroft Gardens, 0.4 miles
- Park: Walsworth Common, 0.4 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.2 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


## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Hitchin | Primary | 4–11 | Report card (July 2026) | yes | under 0.1 miles |
| William Ransom Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Quality of education: Requires improvement; Behaviour and attitudes: Good; Personal development: Good; Leadership and management: Requires improvement (March 2025) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Highbury Infant School and Nursery | Primary | 3–7 | School remains Good (November 2022) | yes | 0.5 miles |
| Mary Exton Primary School | Primary | 5–11 | Good (September 2022) |  | 0.6 miles |
| Whitehill Junior School | Primary | 7–11 | School remains Good (Improving) (March 2023) |  | 0.6 miles |
| York Road Nursery School | Nursery | 2–5 | School remains Outstanding (July 2023) | yes | 0.7 miles |
| Highover Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Quality of education: Outstanding; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Outstanding (January 2025) |  | 0.7 miles |
| Wilshere-Dacre Junior Academy | Primary | 7–11 | Standards maintained (December 2024) |  | 0.7 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Millennium First Steps Nursery Ltd](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/millennium-first-steps-nursery-ltd-ey420136) | Good |  |  | 0.1 miles |
| [Highbury Lodge Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/highbury-lodge-day-nursery-146741) | Outstanding |  |  | 0.2 miles |
| [Goslings Playgroup](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/goslings-playgroup-146757) | Good |  |  | 0.6 miles |
| [Teddybears Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/teddybears-preschool-ey500035) | Good |  |  | 0.6 miles |
| [Kiddi Caru Day Nursery and Preschool](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/kiddi-caru-day-nursery-and-preschool-2638111) | Good |  |  | 0.7 miles |
| [The Cookie Club](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/the-cookie-club-ey472328) |  |  |  | 0.7 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Play Aloud St Andrews's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Play Aloud St Andrews Outstanding at its inspection on 2 February 2023, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.

### How many children can Play Aloud St Andrews take?

Play Aloud St Andrews is registered with Ofsted for up to 78 children at any one time.

### What is the nearest station to Play Aloud St Andrews?

Hitchin is the nearest station we know of, 0.2 miles away in a straight line.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY468316)
- 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.