Earlystarts Childcare
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 19:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in July 2023. Open since 2020, with 110 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Southampton
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Southampton from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
SO18 4DJWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 24 July 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children benefit from the caring and calm atmosphere. Staff greet families in a friendly manner, taking time to listen and exchange relevant information. This helps children to feel safe and secure from the moment they enter the nursery.
During play, children make use of the well-organised and good variety of resources. Children are exposed to fun activities and explore a wide range of vocabulary. They are learning to use a breadth of words to explain their play or thinking.
Children are forging good relationships with each other; they behave well and follow clear boundaries. Staff have a strong focus on supporting children's social and emotional well-being. For example, children develop confidence during activities and discussions about their feelings linked to the story of the 'Colour
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- review the daily lunchtime routine in the toddler room, ensuring that staff consistently meet the children's needs, particularly when children show signs of being tired n strengthen arrangements to identify and support children with particular needs, such as those who need additional support or those with SEND, in line with the
SEND code of practice, to ensure that children achieve the best possible outcomes.
- 24 July 2023Good
- 17 February 2023Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 1 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Earlystarts Childcare
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.