The Kindergarten
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Southampton for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in September 2025. Open since 2017, with 26 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 1EBWhat 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, 11 September 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive and make excellent progress from their starting points. From the moment they arrive, children are engaged by enthusiastic practitioners who are passionate about their role. Children confidently say hello to their friends and demonstrate fantastic independence as they place their belongings away. Children who are new to the setting are warmly welcomed. Practitioners talk them through the different exciting activities available. Children quickly separate from their parents and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure.
Practitioners have a remarkable passion for teaching children about positive behaviour. Throughout the day, they consistently model their expectations to children. Practitioners offer help, encouragement and praise continuously as children go about their activities. Children imitate this beautifully. They kindly ask their friends if they need any help when they are struggling to stick a ball to their crown creation at the art table.
Leaders tailor a focussed and ambitious curriculum to each group of children. For example, they take pride in how they adapt their intentions for children's learning through their knowledge of children's individual needs. Children benefit from activities that embrace the community in which they live. For example, children learn about differences and similarities through a scrapbook and toy bear, which they each get to take home. Children excitedly share their memories with their peers and develop a sense of belonging.
- 11 September 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 7 October 2019Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Kindergarten
- 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.