The Mulberry Bush Bitterne Park
Good★ 3.8 on GoogleBirth to 5Long established
A day nursery in Southampton for children from birth to 5, open 07:30 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2018, with 100 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
SO18 4QGWhat 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.
- 15 October 2025 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 22 November 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 20 July 2023 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 30 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive cheerfully at the nursery. They demonstrate they feel safe and secure as they hold their hands out to staff, who greet them at the front door.
Children separate happily from their parents. An effective settling-in process supports children's successful transitions within the nursery. For example, staff take time to get to know children's personal care routines and interests. They use this information to help children settle into the new environment. Family photograph books are easily accessible to support children's sense of belonging.
Children are well behaved. They listen, follow instructions and take turns. Staff give children regular praise and encouragement in everything they do. This helps to develop children's confidence and self-esteem.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- strengthen the information-sharing arrangements so that all parents and carers are kept fully informed about their child's daily experiences, including at mealtimes n adapt the organisation of transitions and routine activities to reduce waiting times so younger children are more able to maintain their positive behaviour.
- 30 January 2023Good
- 25 February 2022Needs improvement
- 8 May 2019Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Mulberry Bush Bitterne Park
- 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.