Squirrels Nursery Haselworth

Storytelling, practical number work and garden activities gave Squirrels Nursery Haselworth a clear character in July 2021. In July 2021, children explored seaweed, tackled puzzles and prepared fruit for snacks: learning involved things they could handle, investigate and do for themselves.

At its 28 July 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good overall and Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes, while identifying improvements needed in large-group learning and consistent support for independence. Those qualifications matter alongside the praise. Confident children did not mean that every activity worked equally well for every age.

Based inside Haselworth Primary School on Stone Lane in Gosport, the nursery has 36 places in total and accepts children aged 24 to 60 months. Nursery opening hours extend across 50 weeks of the year, with a separate term-time after-school club.

Learning and Activities

The nursery follows the early years foundation stage, the framework for children's learning, development and care. For parents, that means education and everyday care belong together, rather than learning being confined to a formal activity.

In July 2021, stories were animated through changes in pace and voice, with unfamiliar vocabulary explained as children listened. Animal books were positioned beside small-world animal figures, connecting pictures and words with play. That is a concrete example of early reading being woven into the surroundings rather than reserved for story time.

Number work was equally practical that July. Children matched turns of a cereal dispenser to displayed dots and numerals, and arranged slices of wood by size. These were opportunities to connect counting and comparison with an action or object, rather than simply repeat numbers aloud.

The balance between group activities needs attention. In July 2021, small listening groups helped children practise communication, but younger children sometimes struggled to participate in larger gatherings. The useful distinction is how well an activity fits the children taking part, rather than whether it brings everybody together.

Outdoor and Community Life

In July 2021, the garden had been substantially developed, with resources and activities spread through its different areas. Children watered tomato plants, dug in sand, climbed, used a slide and painted fences. Threading laces through holes added a different kind of physical challenge alongside larger movements.

That inspection-era picture gives outdoor learning substance: growing plants, handling materials and moving their bodies all formed part of the day. It also offers a useful starting point for discussing how the garden is used now.

In July 2021, children sought out their key person and played cooperatively with friends. They persisted with difficult tasks and chose resources for themselves. The relationship with a familiar adult sat alongside opportunities to attempt things independently, rather than replacing them.

At the July 2021 inspection, Ofsted found effective safeguarding arrangements and well-targeted additional learning support, including visual help and plans addressing gaps in children's learning. These are dated findings, with practical detail behind them: support was adjusted to what individual children needed.

Independence was less consistent that July. Some adults completed tasks children could have attempted themselves, limiting opportunities to practise. Preparing fruit and solving puzzles showed what children could manage; the improvement point was to make that approach more dependable across staff practice.

The current Haselworth manager also holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role, and the branch has a safeguarding lead on site throughout its operating hours. This gives families a clear point of contact for safeguarding concerns.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Haselworth Primary School, Stone Lane, Gosport PO12 1SQ. Nursery opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 50 weeks annually. Bank holidays and Christmas are closure periods, so the year-round offer still needs to fit a family's holiday arrangements.

The after-school club runs from 3pm to 6pm on weekdays during term time and serves children up to age 11. Its calendar is separate from the nursery's longer operating year. That difference matters for families arranging care for children at different stages.

Enquiries can go directly to haselworth@squirrelsnurseryltd.uk. The nursery also has an online registration route.

Funding and Paid Extras

In July 2021, the setting received early education funding for children aged two, three and four. Families should use the nursery's current written quotation for prices.

Sharing a site with Haselworth Primary School does not guarantee a Reception place. Families still apply through the local authority admissions process; nursery attendance and school admission are separate decisions.

• Younger children in group activities. Large gatherings were less effective for younger children in July 2021. On a visit, ask how activities are adapted so they can take part meaningfully.
• Independence in everyday care. The July 2021 improvement point concerned adults doing tasks children could manage. Ask how staff now support children to try practical tasks themselves.
• The whole childcare bill. Before joining, request a written quotation covering your attendance pattern, funded hours, meals and non-food consumables. This makes the arrangement easier to assess against your family's needs.
• Two calendars on one site. Nursery care operates across 50 weeks, while the after-school club is term-time only. Families using both need to plan separately for school holidays and nursery closures.

Squirrels Nursery Haselworth suits families seeking nursery care across the year, as well as those needing term-time after-school care on the Haselworth Primary School site. Its July 2021 strengths were tangible: expressive storytelling, everyday mathematics and purposeful outdoor activity. The balance is equally clear. Younger children's participation in large groups and consistent encouragement of independence deserve attention when assessing the nursery today.