Sticky Fingers Pre-School
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Millbrook for babies from 9 months up to school age, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 2011, with 32 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
All government funded 3-4 year olds (from the term after their 3rd Birthday) and those in receipt of 2 year old funding and working families entitlements.
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
SO16 9BBWhat 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, 7 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are enthusiastic and ready to engage. Staff provide a meaningful learning environment and opportunities, which support and encourage children to be curious and proactive in their learning. For example, children are keen to compare sizes in the construction area. They also take pleasure in finding pictures of local places, which sparks their communication and language skills as they share their home experiences. Children take part in focused teaching sessions that allow them to practise a range of skills. For instance, using play knives and forks with dough helps children to build independent skills that support them during mealtimes.
Children's voices are heard and respected, and they enjoy contributing their ideas.
They take part in group decision-making, such as voting for the book or song of the day. Children work together to count the votes. They show a good level of understanding and acceptance when their choice is not selected. Staff show a strong awareness of each child's home background and provide thoughtful support.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen staff's understanding of the curriculum and how to identify and support precise next steps for children's learning n strengthen existing parent partnerships so that parents are kept consistently up to date about children's learning and development.
- 7 May 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 7 June 2019Good
- 18 November 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Sticky Fingers Pre-School
- What it costs
- Meals
- Nappies
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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.