Poppins Pre-School and Nursery

In November 2025, kindness, independence and learning to manage feelings gave Poppins Pre-School and Nursery its clearest character. Based at The Scout Hut in Jubilee Park, Waterlooville, it accepts children from 3 months to 5 years.

At its November 2025 inspection, Ofsted judged behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, and inclusion to be Strong standard, with achievement, curriculum and teaching, and leadership and governance at Expected standard; safeguarding standards were met. The educational priority was specific: mathematics needed a clearer sequence so children understood each concept before tackling the next.

In November 2025, practical exploration included pumping coloured water between bottles and discovering how colours combine. This linked an immediate result with the hand control needed to operate the pumps. Children could pursue their own ideas rather than simply follow an adult's instructions.

The early years foundation stage is the framework for children's learning, development and care, bringing communication, physical development and other areas of learning into everyday experiences. In November 2025, staff used short phrases to build children's language and added questions to stories to encourage thinking. Counting featured in songs, while matching quantities with numerals gave children another way to explore numbers.

Outdoor activity that month included running, balancing, climbing and puddle play. Children also considered how to make structures safer before balancing on them. Putting on their own outdoor clothing connected physical play with practising everyday independence.

At the November 2025 inspection, Ofsted found that staff recognised additional needs promptly, adapted support and sought professional help, while children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, made good progress from their starting points. This gives families a concrete picture of support through assessment, adjustments and referrals.

In November 2025, tired younger children received comforting cuddles, and feeding and sleep followed individual routines. Older children could pause with a book. Staff used visual cues about facial expressions and questions about feelings to help children put emotions into words.

Parents received daily developmental updates that month, alongside encouragement to share books at home. Fresh meals were cooked on site, with dietary needs and allergies monitored. At mealtimes, adults sat facing children, and children practised cutting vegetables with child-friendly knives: care routines also provided opportunities for conversation and self-care.

The address is The Scout Hut, Jubilee Park, Milton Road, Waterlooville, PO7 6AW. The accepted age range extends from babies of 3 months to children aged 5 years, so the setting spans several stages of early development.

In November 2025, school preparation included practising dressing, expressing ideas and persisting when an activity proved difficult. These are useful foundations for managing the next stage of learning independently.

• Mathematics. In November 2025, children sometimes moved to new mathematical ideas before securing earlier concepts. Ask how the sequence of learning has been strengthened.
• Care for younger babies. The accepted ages begin at 3 months, while the children present in November 2025 were aged 1 to 4. At a visit, ask how settling, feeding and sleep would work for your baby's routine and intended attendance.

The November 2025 inspection examples make Poppins worth considering for families who value everyday independence, conversation and attentive responses to children's feelings. Its November 2025 care examples are tangible, from comfort before sleep to support with expressing emotions. The balance is clear: care and inclusion received stronger judgements than teaching and achievement, and the mathematics sequence deserves attention when choosing the setting.