The Mulberry Bush
GoodBirth 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 August 2022. Open since 2013, 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 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
SO31 6NSWhat 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.
- 5 December 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
- 12 January 2024 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 5 August 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Staff greet children kindly and enthusiastically. On arrival, children settle extremely well. They find their picture as part of self-registration and choose their own peg to attach it too. This shows that children are emotionally secure. The nursery's drive for an inclusive culture is successfully embedded throughout. Staff ensure they listen to and support every child. As a result, children have positive relationships with all staff. Children present them with pieces of artwork and give ideas of what they want to do next. Younger children snuggle with staff to share stories in a calm and nurturing environment.
Children show positive attitudes towards their learning and behave well. Staff deliver a broad curriculum, which helps them to ensure children have regular opportunities to hear and join in with familiar rhymes, songs and stories to support their language skills. Babies and toddlers thoroughly enjoy group singing activities.
Staff help children become confident to choose songs for everyone to sing and use sign language. Older children show their full attention as they listen to 'There's a
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- further support children's individual needs and ensure that children do not wait for long periods during routine transition times.
- 5 August 2022Good
- 7 September 2017Good
- 13 January 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Mulberry Bush
- 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.