Paint Pots Preschool & Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 07:45 to 18:00, 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 2007, with 51 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
SO15 5BBWhat 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, 15 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are warmly welcomed into a friendly and happy environment. The youngest children receive sensitive interactions from staff. Staff are gentle in their approach and make themselves emotionally available to support their needs. The staff respect and value the children's thoughts and opinions and engage in meaningful play. Children are kind, caring and link up together to help each other and share experiences. They have positive relationships and are content in their environment.
Children enjoy the freedom of playing and investigating while being outdoors. They have opportunities to go outside in all weathers. Children move around with pleasure and have become confident climbers. Children actively seek challenges, and staff give them time and space to learn new skills. For instance, children skilfully walk around on small bucket stilts. They show pride in their achievements, and staff encouragingly praise them. Children develop a positive sense of self.
Staff organise activities that are purposeful with focused learning intentions. For example, children enjoy playing in a tray filled with water, jugs, pots and cups.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen opportunities for children to learn about good hygiene practice to further improve their self-care and independence skills.
- 15 May 2023Good
- 15 August 2017Outstanding
- 11 November 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Paint Pots Preschool & Nursery
- 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.