Southampton University Early Years Centre
GoodBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2003, with 120 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
SO17 1BJWhat 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, 2 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
All staff ensure that children are happy, secure and ready to learn in this diverse nursery. Children form strong bonds with staff and quickly immerse themselves in their play and explorations. They are enthusiastic learners. For example, babies love starting their day outdoors. Toddlers confidently follow all daily routines, including washing their hands before snack and helping to load the dishwasher afterwards. Children love books and avidly listen to stories, sitting close to staff.
Pre-school children experiment with real objects in the sand tray. They collaboratively discuss different ways to fill and empty containers with their friends.
Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children mimic staff's good qualities, showing sensitivity and respect towards others.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance the support for individual staff to interact more effectively with children, and to understand how to use what they know about children to plan more precisely to meet their needs.
- 2 February 2024Good
- 14 February 2018Good
- 15 April 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Southampton University 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.