Lilypad Preschool
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2025. Open since 2006, with 24 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 Hampshire
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Hampshire 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
SO32 1EPWhat 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, 3 February 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the pre-school ready to explore and join in with their friends.
Staff are friendly and welcoming and have developed secure relationships with children. For example, children are greeted as soon as they arrive in the morning and encouraged to find an activity that interests them or a friend they enjoy spending time with. This promotes an environment where children feel safe and are ready to learn.
Children understand the behaviour expectations of the setting and respond well to subtle prompts that are provided by staff to help friends and join in with keeping the resources tidy. For example, when children hear the pack-away song, they know it is time to tidy up. This provides children with a sense of responsibility.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's practice to build on children's knowledge of mathematical concepts to further support their development n develop staff's knowledge of how to support children to learn new vocabulary and enhance their communication and language skills further.
- 3 February 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 June 2019Good
- 14 January 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Lilypad Preschool
- 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.