Play Away Day Nurseries Ltd
Good★ 4.1 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 January 2025. Open since 2002, with 102 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
SO14 5FEWhat 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.
- 18 November 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 20 December 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 24 August 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 5 May 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 22 January 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive happy, confident and eager to learn at this inclusive and welcoming nursery. Staff work closely with families to gain a deep understanding of the children in their care. They use this information to help children settle, meet their individual needs and form good bonds with staff. Babies show that they feel secure as they approach familiar staff for cuddles and reassurance, when needed. Older children seek out their key person to share their experiences or ask for support.
This helps children to have a sense of belonging at the nursery.
Staff plan a wide range of activities and experiences that capture children's interests. For example, babies have great fun making marks with paint and water with brushes. Toddlers persevere at scooping sand into buckets to make sandcastles. Older children develop the small muscles in their hands as they skilfully use scissors and glue sticks to make creations. Staff know children well and adapt activities to take account of the age and abilities of the children taking part.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to recognise when they can encourage children to develop their independence skills further n strengthen the monitoring and support for staff so that they fully understand their roles and responsibilities.
- 22 January 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 9 January 2023Good
- 24 October 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 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.