First Friends Day Nursery, Eastleigh

A garden that connects planting with food preparation gives First Friends Day Nursery, Eastleigh a practical thread running through its day. Children help prepare food in the nursery kitchen, while separate spaces for babies, toddlers and preschool children allow different stages of development to have their own surroundings. Everyday participation is a useful part of the appeal here.

The nursery cares for children from three months to five years on Grantham Road. At its February 2022 inspection, Ofsted judged it Good overall and found safeguarding effective. That judgement is dated; the detail beneath it includes babies forming close relationships with staff and older children practising cooperation through play.

Attendance options include full days, half days and a term-time preschool pattern. This gives families more than one way to fit nursery around their week.

Rooms and Ages

Babies, toddlers and preschool children have separate rooms, alongside a garden. The Baby Room has a role play area, the Pre-School Room has an arts and crafts table, and toddlers have a reading area. These give the account of indoor play something concrete: space for pretend play, making things and sharing books.

The age range begins at three months, so this is provision for babies as well as children preparing for school. The distinction between stages matters when choosing a setting: a baby's care routines and an older child's opportunities for independent activity need different surroundings.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care. Here, guided activities sit alongside freely chosen play, with children's interests shaping their exploration. For parents, that means learning is part of play and ordinary routines.

First Friends also has a group-wide enhanced curriculum, presented here as its Premium Package. Its named components include Earth Explorers, Thoughtful Food, Movement & Mindfulness, Makaton and Home-learning programmes. These sit alongside the EYFS; the package name itself should not be treated as a judgement about teaching quality.

Food participation gives a concrete example of the current nursery day. Children plant in the garden and help with preparation in the kitchen, connecting the experience of growing food with what happens before a meal. This is a practical reason to look beyond the menu when considering the setting.

In February 2022, staff used children's interests to shape activities. Sharing a remote-controlled car gave children opportunities to practise taking turns, while discussion around a story prompted them to think about safe behaviour indoors. The learning was embedded in recognisable play situations.

Outdoor and Community Life

The garden provides an outdoor setting within the nursery itself. It also has a practical purpose through planting, rather than serving only as somewhere to play. The connection with kitchen activities gives children a way to participate in the food they encounter during their day.

In February 2022, celebrations included Chinese New Year and Russian New Year, bringing different cultural traditions into children's experiences. First Friends' group-wide charity partner for 2026 is NAOMI HOUSE & JACKSPLACE. That is a named community connection, rather than a reason to infer any particular fundraising schedule.

Before starting, children are offered at least three settling-in sessions, beginning around a month before their start date. Families meet the child's key worker during this process. The arrangement gives a child time to become familiar with both the setting and the person who will support them, rather than making the first booked day the first introduction.

At the February 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that staff adapted reassurance to children's needs, supported progress for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and maintained constructive relationships with parents. Babies were comforted when tired, and parents received help with introducing solid foods. These are inspection-era findings, rather than a claim about every current interaction.

An SEN lead is part of the Eastleigh team. This gives families a defined role for discussions about additional needs. The settling period is also a useful opportunity to explain a child's routines and the support that helps them feel comfortable.

An in-house chef prepares hot food in the nursery, with breakfast, snacks, a lunch of two courses and tea forming the daily food provision. Children also help with food preparation, so eating and learning are connected rather than entirely separate parts of the day.

The Eastleigh Family Page brings together menus, newsletter sign-up, contact with the manager and home-learning activities. Its Play and Learn at Home resource gives families activities to do together, extending participation beyond nursery hours. Families also have an alternative contact through the area manager when they want to raise a concern outside the nursery management team.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is First Friends Day Nursery, Grantham Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5PU. Opening hours run from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates for 51 weeks, with closures for bank holidays, a week over Christmas and New Year, and an annual summer staff conference.

Half-day bookings run from 8am to 1pm or from 1pm to 6pm; full days run from 8am to 6pm. Preschool also has a term-time pattern from 9am to 3pm. Early starts from 7am and collection as late as 7pm extend the options around the core bookings.

The minimum attendance is ten hours each week, which can be one full day or two half days. That is a meaningful commitment for a family seeking occasional care: the choice is between regular patterns, rather than simply using the entire opening window as needed.

Existing Eastleigh families can request additional sessions on an ad hoc basis. Leaving the nursery requires eight weeks' notice, so a change of childcare arrangements needs planning ahead. Enquiries and tour requests have routes through the nursery's contact service.

Funding and Getting There

Funded childcare is offered on a stretched basis across 51 weeks. Spreading entitlement across the year is relevant for families whose childcare needs continue outside school terms. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

A visitor parking bay is allocated immediately outside reception. This is a specific parking arrangement to factor into plans for taking children to and from nursery.

• Teaching precision. In February 2022, the improvement priorities were more purposeful staff development and sharper planning of children's next learning steps. On a visit, ask how staff now use what they know about a child to choose the next activity.
• Regular attendance. The minimum is ten hours weekly, through one full day or two half days. Compare those patterns with your family's recurring commitments before choosing sessions.
• The enhanced curriculum. Earth Explorers and Movement & Mindfulness are components of the Premium Package. Ask what these involve for your child's age and how the package, meals and consumables affect funded and privately paid hours.
• Planning a departure. Eastleigh families must give eight weeks' notice of their child's final day. Allow for that period when arranging a move or changing childcare.

First Friends suits families seeking either regular half-day care, full-day attendance or a term-time preschool pattern. The garden-to-kitchen activities, separate spaces for different stages and advance settling sessions give it a practical identity. The February 2022 Good judgement is a useful reference point, balanced by the teaching and staff-development priorities from that same visit.