The Mulberry Bush Eastleigh

A Victorian school building being reshaped for early childhood gives The Mulberry Bush Eastleigh its character. The original Cranbury Road school is undergoing renovation inside and outside, with completion scheduled for Autumn 2026. Gardening already brings learning down to a child's level: planting, watering and investigating herbs turn food growing into something children can take part in.

At its 6 June 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good and found safeguarding effective, with children including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities making good progress. The nursery has capacity for 100 children and accepts ages from 3 to 60 months. That whole-setting capacity should be kept separate from the size of the group a child spends their day with.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care; in everyday language, this means education and care belong together, with play helping children develop skills. Eastleigh's current approach centres on learning through play. Growing minds in the garden brings this into gardening, giving children practical experience of growing food. Children sow seeds, tend plants and investigate herbs through their colours and scents, linking sensory exploration with where food comes from.

In June 2025, staff used children's interests to shape activities while introducing a new curriculum. Babies and toddlers explored textured books as stories were read, combining listening with touch. Counting was woven into activities too, giving mathematical language a practical place in play rather than keeping it separate from what children were doing.

Makaton sign language accompanied stories in June 2025, and singing included different languages alongside familiar songs. These were different ways for children to participate in communication. Physical play was equally concrete: older children attempted obstacle courses and aimed beanbags at a hoop, while younger children used a climbing frame and threw balls to staff. The activities gave children opportunities to practise movement, coordination and persistence.

Outdoor and Community Life

Sensory spaces bring textures, colour and sound into areas designed for different ages. The renovation also includes a planned bespoke garden, developed with early years specialists and an outdoor play team. This is a project in progress, with Autumn 2026 the scheduled completion period, rather than a finished facility to take for granted.

Relationships and Communication

In June 2025, staff gathered information about children's interests and development before they started. Daily conversations then connected home and nursery, with information exchanged at the beginning and end of sessions. An online platform carried individual development updates, giving parents another way to follow their child's learning.

A book lending library and communication bags containing activity ideas extended that connection into home life in June 2025. The practical value was straightforward: families could borrow books and use ideas linked to learning, rather than relying solely on a verbal account of the day. Children also practised independence by putting their own belongings on pegs and learnt to share and take turns during play.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

In June 2025, staff identified additional needs, sought help from other agencies and shared strategies with parents, including support for behaviour at home. These mechanisms matter more than a broad promise of inclusion: they connect concerns noticed in nursery with help beyond it.

Lunchtime routines were less consistent for older children that June. Younger children ate in smaller groups with planned transitions, but preschool children spent too much time waiting and queuing. Some preschool group activities were also too large to involve everyone effectively. These are practical questions about the organisation of the day, not just the activities on offer.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 152 Cranbury Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5HT. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

Families are advised to confirm session availability before submitting the online registration form and paying the non-refundable administration fee. After receipt of the form and fee, start dates and attendance days are agreed before written confirmation follows by letter or email. Once registration is confirmed, changes to attendance days or the start date can be declined, so the initial agreement has practical consequences for families whose plans may change.

Funding and Paid Extras

In June 2025, the nursery provided government-funded early education for children aged nine months to four years. Current prices should come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Preschool participation. In June 2025, some group activities left children struggling to stay involved. During a tour, ask how activities are organised so each child can participate.
• Lunchtime waiting. Older children spent lengthy periods queuing in June 2025. Ask how the preschool lunchtime routine now limits waiting and keeps children engaged.
• Renovation timing. Work on the Victorian building and planned garden is scheduled for completion in Autumn 2026. A visit should establish which spaces your child would use while the project progresses.
• Attendance agreement. Confirmed start dates and attendance days cannot simply be changed on request. Settle the pattern carefully before completing registration.

Eastleigh suits families drawn to learning through play, gardening and a nursery based in a Victorian school building undergoing renewal. Its June 2025 strengths included practical communication with parents and varied sensory, language and physical activities. The June 2025 weaknesses in preschool group participation and lunchtime routines temper those strengths. Renovation timing also matters for families joining during the work.