Milton Park Pre-School
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Portsmouth for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 1992, with 30 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 Portsmouth
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Portsmouth 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
PO4 8ETWhat 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, 22 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff warmly welcome the children into the setting. They support children to put their belongings away, wash their hands and sit on the mat with a story. Children follow the routines and structures of the day. For example, once the children have all arrived, they join in with a music and movement session. Children confidently explore the activities provided, both inside and outside. Children show they feel happy and safe in this setting.
Children behave well. Staff question children on the rules and remind them of these when necessary. For example, children use the term 'sharing is caring' to explain that it is kind to share the toys. Staff use a range of approaches to manage behaviour. For instance, staff praise good behaviour and use timers to help children practise turn-taking. Staff are quick to intervene and teach children the importance of keeping themselves and others safe.
The management team provides an ambitious curriculum for all children, which allows the staff to plan activities based on children's individual learning and interests. For example, children are learning about colours and creating autumn pictures. This follows children's interest and curiosity about the colours changing on the trees. Children freely access the inside and outside provisions, where all seven areas of learning are available. Staff join in with their play to extend their learning further. Children enjoy their learning experiences and are progressing in their learning and development.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the interactions and conversations with children, to further encourage their communication and language skills.
- 22 September 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 24 January 2020Good
- 9 December 2015Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Milton Park 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.