Little Gems Day Nursery
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Waterlooville for babies from 3 months up to school age, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in August 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2012, with 50 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
15 hours free a week for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years old. 30 hours free for children aged 3 and 4 years old.
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
PO8 9BTWhat 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, 11 August 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children enter the setting happy, confident, and ready to learn. Staff place great importance on children's emotional well-being. This is firmly embedded within the setting's culture. Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, parents and carers are unable to enter the premises. Leaders have adapted routines to meet the emotional needs of individual children. This includes during handover times.
Leaders and staff have ambitious expectations of all children. This includes children with special educational needs, and/or disabilities (SEND). They analyse what children already know and identify what they need to learn next. Staff work in partnerships with parents and carers to create tailored learning plans. Children are making good progress in all areas of the curriculum as a result.
Children's behaviour is well supported. Staff focus on positive behaviour and offer meaningful praise. This helps children develop high levels of self-esteem, as well as positive attitudes towards their learning. For example, they show pride as they attach personal achievements to the 'proud cloud'. Staff role model kindness and respect. They remind children to use 'kind hands' and ask babies permission before engaging in care routines. Children form strong friendships with each other and are respectful as a result.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen large group activities to ensure the curriculum intent fully reflects the learning needs of all children n offer support for staff to provide all parents with the same good quality of information.
- 11 August 2021Good
- 31 January 2018Good
- 14 July 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Little Gems Day Nursery
- What it costs
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.