Saplings (Childrens) Day Nursery Ltd
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2024. Open since 2011, with 38 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
SO45 2HWWhat 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.
- 22 December 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 7 December 2022 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 25 March 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at the setting. They develop meaningful relationships with staff, who are passionate, immensely caring, and kind. Children learn about what makes them unique as they share their family books with their friends in the quiet area. They point out photos of family members and chat about their pets. Children show a real interest in each other's families, and they discuss the people who are important to them. This helps children to develop a secure sense of belonging and identity.
Children benefit from a language-rich environment that supports their early communication skills well. For instance, children play a game called 'what's in the bag'. They take turns to pick an object of interest out of the bag and explore it before having a go at naming it. Staff repeat the word and ask children questions to test their understanding. Children hear the same word multiple times, which supports word formation and pronunciation. This helps all children to develop the skills they will need to be effective communicators.
Children develop positive attitudes to their learning as they engage in activities that build their listening skills, concentration, and confidence. Children learn to be helpful, and they take pride when completing tasks, such as tidying up. Older children start to find solutions to their problems. For instance, when a child struggles to lift a heavy box of toys during tidy-up time, children notice this and offer help. They take a handle of the box to share the load.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- ensure that activities are well prepared and organised, so that children can transition through the routine with minimal disruption to their care and learning.
- 25 March 2024Good
- 22 November 2023Inadequate
- 21 June 2023Inadequate
- 11 September 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 4 graded inspections.
Still missing for Saplings (Childrens) Day Nursery 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.