Play Away Day Nurseries Ltd
Good★ 4.9 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 5, open 08:00 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 March 2023. Open since 1997, with 100 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
SO30 3FEWhat 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.
- 23 July 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 19 October 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 19 June 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 6 March 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy, active, inquisitive learners. Managers and staff have high expectations for every child, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They have a good understanding of what they want children to learn. Staff provide an exciting curriculum and learning environment that successfully supports all children's exploration and enthusiasm for learning.
The atmosphere in the nursery is inviting and welcoming to children and parents.
Staff encourage children to behave well, make choices and develop their independence. For example, older children help to lay the table, serve themselves and clear their plates at lunchtime. All children confidently choose and use resources independently.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- consider ways to further extend and challenge children's development when they play independently, so they make the best possible progress n review and improve care routines, so that children's learning and concentration during activities is not disrupted.
- 6 March 2023Good
- 4 November 2022Inadequate
- 2 December 2021Needs improvement
- 11 April 2013Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Play Away Day Nurseries Ltd
- 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.