Welcome House Day Nursery

Outdoor rope climbing, stories acted out and produce picked at an allotment gave Welcome House Day Nursery a practical, exploratory character in July 2025. At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Outstanding, highlighting carefully planned teaching and children's enthusiasm for learning.

The Chichester setting has capacity for 36 children aged two to five. At that inspection, children negotiated their play, prepared snacks for friends and investigated subjects beyond their immediate experience.

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play used to explore ideas and practise skills. In July 2025, learning included investigating snails' preferred weather and discussing how the Titanic sank. These examples show the breadth of subjects introduced through children's curiosity.

Language had a practical role. In July 2025, children took turns telling stories, put events in order and performed them, while staff introduced vocabulary and questions to extend conversations. Storytelling offered opportunities to speak, listen and organise ideas rather than simply hear a book read aloud.

Outdoor activity also involved purposeful tasks. In July 2025, children used ropes and knots to reach tree branches, negotiating with one another as they played. At the allotment, they cultivated flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruit, then used their harvest in snacks and mud kitchen play. Growing and using produce connected exploration with everyday responsibilities.

In July 2025, additional funding supported forest school and beach school sessions, giving children opportunities to learn in different, challenging environments beyond the nursery.

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and praised SEND support, including prompt identification of needs, collaboration with external professionals and individual teaching that helped children make excellent progress.

In July 2025, staff incorporated parents' views into assessments and adjusted teaching to children's needs. This gave families a role in planning what children would learn next. Support for older children's emotional wellbeing included yoga, with children themselves leading sessions for one another.

Everyday independence was practised in small tasks. In July 2025, younger children put away shoes and sun hats indoors, and children prepared snacks for their friends. These routines gave them responsibilities they could carry out themselves.

The address is 87 Grove Road, Chichester, PO19 8AR. Opening hours are 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays, two weeks at Christmas and two weeks in summer. Those breaks matter when planning childcare around work.

In July 2025, the nursery received funding for children's early education. That inspection-time participation is separate from a family's individual entitlement.

• Booking around work. The opening window runs from 8.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays. Which attendance pattern would fit your working hours?
• Holiday cover. Christmas and summer closures each last two weeks, alongside bank holidays. Families needing care through those periods will need another arrangement.
• Outdoor challenge. July 2025 examples included rope climbing, allotment work and learning beyond the nursery. This is a relevant choice for families who value practical exploration and opportunities to take responsibility.

Welcome House suits families with children aged two to five who value storytelling, hands-on outdoor learning and growing independence. The July 2025 examples give substance to its Outstanding judgement: learning involved conversations, investigations and useful tasks. Its weekday opening window and seasonal closures are the main practical considerations for working families.