Aster Daisy Nursery

A pottery wheel, a children’s kitchen and an old pool house converted for soft play give Aster Daisy Nursery a character that goes beyond its Edwardian house. These are spaces for making, experimenting and moving, rather than simply a handsome backdrop. The library nook adds a quieter counterpoint, with books children can choose to explore and share.

At its April 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children developing independence, social skills and enthusiasm for learning. There were also practical improvements to make, especially around lunchtime organisation and the feedback staff received through coaching.

At Rakelands on London Road in Rake, Liss, the nursery has capacity for 99 children, with an accepted age range of 3 to 60 months. Its opening hours run from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children’s learning, development and care: play, conversation and everyday experiences contribute to their learning. Here, the physical spaces give that work several concrete settings. The children’s kitchen provides a place to prepare food and practise everyday skills; sinks at child height also let children take part in clearing up. That makes the practical work part of the experience.

The atelier space brings together canvases, a pottery wheel and room for transient art. Children have somewhere to work with materials and arrange creations, while the library nook supports choosing and sharing texts. These spaces offer different ways to participate: making something, handling materials or spending time with a book.

In April 2024, babies explored leaves, branches, logs and animal figures while staff introduced descriptive language. Toddlers investigated sand, paint, mud and water. Preschool children mixed garden ingredients with water to make potions, measured quantities and considered what might change. The activities connected sensory exploration with conversation and early thinking skills, rather than treating these as separate tasks.

Outdoor and Community Life

Private gardens surround the house, with an outdoor chalet and forest school hub extending the spaces children can use. The former pool house now contains soft play exclusively for nursery children. This gives physical play a dedicated indoor setting alongside the gardens.

In April 2024, outdoor experiences continued throughout the year. Older children rode trikes, while younger children tackled obstacles, climbing frames and balancing equipment. These provided different physical challenges for different stages of development. The emphasis was on practising movement and exploring the surroundings, with opportunities to talk about what children were doing.

At the April 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that the special educational needs coordinator worked with families and each child’s key person to organise targeted developmental support. The practical value is the connection between the person who knows a child’s daily experiences and the person coordinating additional help.

In April 2024, staff planned activities around children’s interests and used stories, songs and conversation to support language. They also recognised everyday achievements, including putting on outdoor shoes independently. Clear boundaries and help with understanding emotions supported children when they encountered difficulties, giving self-care and relationships a place alongside planned activities.

Children ate freshly prepared meals and snacks in April 2024, and staff kept dietary information updated. Lunchtime organisation nevertheless needed attention: staff deployment did not consistently support an orderly routine, and the improvement action linked this to promoting children’s health.

Staff had supervision meetings and access to training in April 2024. Coaching and mentoring needed clearer feedback to help practitioners develop their teaching further. These are useful points to revisit alongside the positive inspection judgement, because the organisation of ordinary routines matters as much as the activity spaces.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Rakelands, London Road, Rake, Liss, GU33 7PH. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and one week at Christmas. That calendar matters for families planning care around work and holiday cover.

Enquiries can be made by telephone on 01730 858480 or by email at aster@mydaisynursery.com.

Getting There

There is on-site parking, and a footpath connects the nursery with Rake’s village centre and bus stops. The site is just off the A3, close to Petersfield and Liphook, giving families both road access and a connection to the village on foot.

Funding and Paid Extras

In April 2024, the nursery received funding for early education for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Families should obtain a current written quotation when arranging care.

• Lunchtime organisation. The April 2024 improvement action concerned staff deployment during routines, especially lunch. At a visit, ask how the meal routine now works and how staff support children through it.
• Staff feedback. Coaching and mentoring needed more precise feedback in April 2024. Ask how practitioners now receive practical guidance on their work with children.
• Attendance and funding. The weekday opening window and Christmas closure help with planning. Ask which booking patterns fit your child and how funded hours, meals and consumables would work within the proposed arrangement.

Aster Daisy Nursery suits families looking for weekday care across the year and children who enjoy making, sensory exploration and physical play. The kitchen, atelier and converted pool house give those interests concrete places to develop. Its Good judgement provides a dated assessment of quality; the lunchtime and coaching actions give families specific matters to explore before choosing it.