Gateway Brockhurst Avery

Preparing a snack and putting lunch boxes in the fridge are part of learning independence at Gateway Brockhurst Avery. This purpose-built preschool in the grounds of Brockhurst Primary School gives children practical responsibilities alongside play. Small everyday tasks carry a clear purpose: children have opportunities to make choices and do things for themselves.

The setting caters for children aged two to five, with 48 places in total. At its September 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that staff supported children's communication well, although the literacy curriculum needed more consistent implementation. That gives parents a useful balance: positive findings about relationships and spoken language, with reading provision requiring attention.

Term-time preschool care sits alongside breakfast and after-school provision.

Rooms and Ages

Caterpillars and Butterflies are the two preschool rooms. Room allocation takes account of a child's individual needs and parents' views, rather than treating age as the only consideration. For families, that makes the discussion about the right room an important part of joining.

The purpose-built accommodation sits within the primary school's grounds. The preschool's emphasis on independence extends into routines: children help with snack preparation, put their lunch boxes away and make choices. These are concrete opportunities to practise managing everyday tasks, rather than independence remaining an abstract aim.

Learning and Activities

EYFS provides the framework for children's learning and care, including developing language, movement and relationships through their daily experiences. Here, those three areas receive particular emphasis. Conversation, physical activity and learning to get along with others shape the educational priorities.

PLOD (Possible Lines of Development) is the planning method used to build activities around children's interests. It adds a practical way of choosing what to explore within the EYFS: staff use what interests a child as a starting point for further learning. The value for parents is an approach that connects planned activities with something their child already wants to investigate.

In September 2025, messy play involved staff exploring materials alongside children, helping them describe textures and offering ideas for experimentation. Outdoor activities included water play, bicycles and scooters; staff paired water exploration with words about what children were doing. Physical experiences therefore provided opportunities to practise speech as well as movement.

At the September 2025 inspection, Ofsted identified inconsistent storytelling and uneven access to varied books across the learning spaces, limiting opportunities to build enthusiasm for reading. This was a specific weakness in how literacy plans reached children, rather than a general criticism of the whole curriculum.

Parents have several ways to participate in preschool life. Stay and play sessions allow them to share their child's everyday experiences, while parents' evenings provide time to discuss development with key carers. An open-door approach also welcomes parental involvement. These arrangements make communication more than a scheduled update.

Room placement involves listening to families about their child's needs. That is a useful practical mechanism for discussing individual circumstances, although the right fit still depends on the child and the support they require.

In September 2025, staff gathered information when children started and used it to plan their next learning steps. Parents contributed information about home experiences and helped develop those plans. The exchange worked in both directions: experiences outside preschool could inform conversations and activities during the day, while parents could continue learning at home.

At that time, clear expectations helped children understand indoor movement and considerate play. Children also practised putting on shoes and coats and joined in tidying activities. These examples show how routines were used to teach responsibility and consideration for others.

The September 2025 staff team comprised 14 people working with children. Training included support for children's behaviour, and regular supervision addressed professional development and staff wellbeing. This is a dated picture of the team's organisation, rather than a measure of how many adults work in either room today.

Sessions and Attendance

Preschool opening hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Sessions take place within that window. School holidays, half terms and designated inset days need to be considered when fitting childcare around work.

Breakfast Club begins at 7.15am and runs until school starts. The after-school club runs from the end of school until 5.30pm. At the September 2025 inspection, the clubs served children aged 4 to 11 attending Brockhurst Primary School. Their operating hours should be considered separately from preschool opening hours.

Getting There

The address is Brockhurst Primary School, North Campus, Avery Lane, Gosport, PO12 4SL. Branch enquiries can be made by telephone on 023 92 529 209 or by email at brockhurstavery@gatewaypreschools.org.

Sharing the school grounds does not guarantee a Reception place.

Funding and Paid Extras

Both funded childcare and privately paid attendance are offered. For a paid arrangement, current prices belong in the nursery's written quotation.

• Reading in practice. September 2025 brought a specific literacy improvement point about storytelling and access to books. During a visit, ask how children now encounter books in both Caterpillars and Butterflies.
• Preschool and school clubs. Preschool closes at 3.30pm, while the later club serves school children. Choose the attendance arrangement that matches your child's stage, and account for term-time closures.
• The complete childcare quotation. Funded and private attendance are both offered. Ask for a written breakdown of your proposed sessions, funded entitlement, meals and non-food consumables before agreeing an arrangement.

Gateway Brockhurst Avery suits families seeking term-time preschool care, Breakfast Club or the after school club. Its most persuasive practical features are interest-led PLOD planning, everyday responsibilities and opportunities for parents to participate. The September 2025 literacy concern remains the clearest point to explore: enthusiastic talk and hands-on play need to sit alongside equally engaging encounters with books.