Seashells Early Years Centre
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in East Cowes for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in April 2023. Open since 2013, with 91 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 Isle of Wight
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Isle of Wight 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
PO32 6EAWhat 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, 27 April 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children's learning is well supported by the passionate staff team, enabling them to make the best possible progress in their development. Children form secure relationships with their key person, which helps them to feel safe and happy.
Babies benefit greatly from the warm and caring interactions they receive from staff who effectively meet their care needs. For example, when they are tired, they cuddle up to their key person for reassurance. Children dance along to music with energy and enthusiasm as they copy the staff's actions. They smile happily and move their bodies in time to the music.
Children grow in confidence. They are eager to have a go at the activities available to them and invite visitors to join their play. They play imaginatively with dolls, rocking them in carry seats and pretending to pat them to sleep. Children behave well. They play cooperatively with their friends, sharing out toys and encouraging each other to have a go. For instance, they give each other beanbags and suggest which target they should aim for. When the beanbag lands on the target they are aiming at, children share their achievements proudly. Their friends and staff praise them, which creates a positive environment, building their self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- support staff to adapt their teaching during activities to ensure that all children participating receive high-quality teaching and learning experiences n improve staff deployment while children play in the toddler room to maximise children's engagement.
- 27 April 2023Good
- 4 August 2017Good
- 4 February 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Seashells Early Years Centre
- 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.