Business Details
16 Years
experience
Trusted Child Care Services in Harpenden
Founded in 2010 by Jenny and Shaun Herbaut, Fingertips is a family-run early years provider operating two OFSTED Outstanding settings in Harpenden. Our approach combines traditional preschool education with innovative Forest School methodologies pioneered locally since 2011. With a team of highly qualified educators, including certified Level 3 Forest School practitioners, we deliver tailored care for children aged 2-5 across 38 weeks annually. Our unique pedagogy integrates indoor learning environments with outdoor woodland experiences, fostering accelerated development through nature-based exploration.We maintain a high adult-to-child ratio to address individual needs while working closely with families to support each child's learning journey. Backed by our 2017 OFSTED Outstanding rating, we combine Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum requirements with holistic development strategies that emphasize confidence-building, risk management, and creative problem-solving. Our Woodland Nursery at Manland Primary School extends these principles through continuous free-flow access between indoor classrooms and natural outdoor spaces.
Services
Preschool
Forest School
Woodland Nursery
Early Years Curriculum
OFSTED Accreditation
Details
- Year established: 2010
Highlights and features
- We pioneered Forest School education in Harpenden since 2011
- Our team includes certified Level 3 Forest School practitioners
- Maintain high adult-to-child ratios for personalized attention
- OFSTED Outstanding rating reflecting exceptional educational standards
- Offer flexible funding options including 15 and 30-hour schemes
Associations and certifications
- OFSTED
What people say
Accelerated development
Nurturing environment
Qualified staff
Visible improvements
Happy children
Services
Forest School
Our Forest School program delivers holistic Scandinavian-style outdoor education in natural woodland environments. Children develop confidence and teamwork through activities like whittling, fire lighting, and tree climbing while learning risk management and environmental awareness. This approach fosters creative problem-solving and physical development through structured yet child-led exploration.
Preschool
Our sessional preschool offers structured learning for 2-5 year olds following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. With a high adult-to-child ratio, we provide personalized development plans combining indoor educational activities with outdoor garden exploration to support school readiness through play-based learning.
Woodland Nursery
The Woodland Nursery provides full-day care from 8am-4pm with optional extended hours at Manland Primary School's woodland area. Children access continuous free-flow learning between indoor classrooms and outdoor spaces, combining structured teaching with natural exploration to develop social skills and environmental awareness through daily Forest School activities.
Childcare Funding
We accept various funding schemes including 2-year-old funding, 15-hour and limited 30-hour funded places for 3-4 year olds. Our team assists families with funding applications and offers flexible payment options including childcare vouchers, termly invoicing, and deposit systems to ensure accessible quality early years education.
Special Educational Needs
Our SENCO-coordinated support provides tailored care for children with additional needs through individualized learning plans. With staff trained in safeguarding and child protection, we maintain close parent partnerships to ensure all children receive appropriate support while developing social skills in our inclusive, multi-faith environment.
People
Jenny Herbaut
Head Teacher
With 20 years' experience, Jenny is an Early Years Teacher and Level 3 Forest School Practitioner. She holds paediatric first aid and child protection qualifications, overseeing curriculum development and safeguarding as Designated Safeguarding Officer.
Shaun Herbaut
Forest School Team Leader
Level 4 qualified in Early Years Practice, Shaun leads Forest School sessions with specialist training in outdoor first aid and risk management. He co-founded Fingertips' woodland education approach and manages practical safety implementation.
Ana Marsh
Team Leader
Ana supervises daily operations with 12-hour paediatric first aid certification and safeguarding expertise. She coordinates staff training programs and ensures compliance with early years regulations across both nursery settings.
Hannah Libby
Key Person
As a qualified teacher, Hannah provides individualized care with specialist safeguarding training. She develops personalized learning plans and maintains detailed child development records in collaboration with parents.
Elaine New
Supervisor
Elaine oversees daily nursery activities with NVQ Level 3 qualification and advanced food hygiene certification. She manages staff rotas and ensures consistent implementation of educational activities across indoor and outdoor learning spaces.
Questions
What childcare funding options do you accept?
We accept 2-year-old funding, 15-hour and limited 30-hour funded places for 3-4 year olds. Please contact us for specific availability.
What are your operating hours?
Preschool sessions run 8:30am-3:30pm term-time only. Woodland Nursery operates 8am-4pm with optional 4-5pm extension Monday-Thursday.
How do you support special educational needs?
Our SENCO coordinates individualized plans with trained staff, maintaining 1:4 adult-child ratios and close parent collaboration for children with additional needs.
What qualifications do your staff hold?
All staff hold paediatric first aid and safeguarding qualifications. Forest School leaders have Level 3 certifications, with teaching staff holding relevant early years degrees.
What activities are included in Forest School?
Activities include whittling, fire lighting, tree climbing, and nature exploration designed to develop confidence, risk management and teamwork skills.
How do you communicate with parents?
We maintain regular communication through individual learning plans, group updates, and daily interaction during drop-off/collection times at both locations.
Reviews (2)
Tabitha Jane Mackness
Jun 19, 2016
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My son absolutely loves both Fingertips and Forest School. I love seeing his confidence grow and the relationships that he's building. Thank you Jenny and Shaun.
Liliana Ross Arevalo
Jun 27, 2014
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This is the best pre-school ever... Our girls go since very little and they have improve massively in many aspects, confidence, questioning, love for nature, creativity, numbers, behaviour, physical skills, respect and care for each other, they are so happy and relax that they sing (their own lyrics) when doing any activity... Thank you Jenny, Shaun and the Team you are doing a fantastic job... We love FT/FS :)...
