Little Explorers Nursery and Pre-school

Mealtime supervision and safe garden play are decisive questions for families considering Little Explorers Nursery and Pre-school in Gosport. At its 3 June 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged children's welfare and wellbeing to need Urgent improvement, with Achievement, Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines, Curriculum and teaching, Inclusion, and Leadership and governance all graded Needs attention, although safeguarding standards were met.

The nursery has capacity for 145 children aged 0 to 60 months. That is a whole-setting figure, rather than the size of any individual group.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, that means considering both the activities children experience and the supervision and support surrounding them.

In June 2026, books and songs supported listening and early literacy, while counting and sorting introduced mathematical ideas. Babies explored paint and textures; staff extended construction play with descriptive vocabulary and counting. These were concrete opportunities to learn through everyday play.

Delivery was uneven in June 2026. Some practitioners were still learning the new curriculum and were unclear about children's next learning steps. Independence also depended on staff practice: some children served themselves at meals, while adults completed tasks for others.

Garden safety needed close attention in June 2026. Older children had frequent accidents during active play, with insufficiently purposeful activities and misuse of parasols and deckchairs contributing to problems. Indoors, toys obstructed a route to the toilet. Physical organisation mattered as much as the activities themselves.

At the June 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that children sought comfort from familiar staff, but support for children with SEND was inconsistent, despite leaders working with parents and external professionals and developing plans with specific targets.

In June 2026, those plans did not reliably translate into everyday support. Some children became distressed during changes of activity, and staff did not adapt quickly enough. Before lunch, prolonged waiting left children unsettled and interrupted staff interactions with others.

Mealtimes posed a more immediate problem in June 2026: staff deployment left some children eating without adequate adult oversight, despite sufficient staff being present. Children leaving tables with food in their mouths were not always noticed, creating a choking risk. Responses to accidents were also inconsistent because staff responsibilities were unclear.

The address is Unit F1 Heritage Business Park, Heritage Way, Gosport, PO12 4BG. In June 2026, opening hours were Monday to Friday, 7am to 6.30pm.

In June 2026, leaders monitored attendance and contacted parents when children were absent. They also worked with other professionals and supported families through moves to other settings.

• Eating safely. June 2026 findings included gaps in adult oversight while children ate. During a visit, ask how staff now organise meals and maintain supervision throughout.
• Support through transitions. In June 2026, agreed SEND strategies were applied unevenly. Ask how a child's individual plan reaches every practitioner and shapes changes of activity.
• Garden and accident management. June 2026 concerns involved frequent garden accidents and inconsistent staff responses. Ask how outdoor activities, hazard checks and accident procedures work together.

For families looking for care from babyhood through preschool, Little Explorers' age range fits that requirement, but the June 2026 findings warrant careful scrutiny of supervision, routines and individual support. June 2026 offered examples of affectionate relationships, sensory exploration and early language work, alongside serious shortcomings in supervision, routines and consistent teaching. Families needing individual support should give particular weight to how plans are put into practice across the day.