Longoak Pre-school
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 09:30 to 14:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2003, with 26 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
SO31 8DTWhat 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 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children come into pre-school happily. They are greeted by warm, kind and caring staff. Children eagerly give their key person a hug as they come in. They use their key person for reassurance if needed. Children learn to identify different emotions they may be feeling. For example, staff have labelled pots with the different emotions and colours found in the 'Colour Monster', such as yellow for happy.
Children place their peg in the different-coloured pots to let staff know how they are feeling today. Staff skilfully support them through this and talk to children about what they are feeling and why. They take care to validate children's feelings.
Staff encourage children to problem solve and critically think. For example, staff prompt children to think about what will happen when they mix cornflour and water together. They think through ways to mix it together successfully. Staff develop children's mathematical knowledge as they play. For example, staff encourage children to measure the worms they have found to see which is the longest.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- plan more precisely for children's next steps in learning n review and develop the organisations of transitions, particularly at lunchtime so children swiftly re-engage in their learning and play.
- 11 May 2023Good
- 23 May 2022Needs improvement
- 13 January 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Longoak Pre-school
- 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.