Tops Day Nurseries: Newport Nursery

Tree climbing, obstacle courses and imaginative woodland play shaped the February 2024 nursery day at Tops Newport, on the Isle of Wight College campus. Outdoor activity had a practical purpose: children practised judging risks and managing their own coats and boots.

At its 6 February 2024 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, judged safeguarding effective and found that children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), made good progress. The current age range is 3 to 60 months. Later health-related compliance findings also matter to the decision.

In February 2024, the curriculum emphasised creativity, independence and resilience, building learning on what children could already do. The early years foundation stage sets the requirements for learning, development and care: here, the dated examples included learning through stories, counting games and physical play.

Literacy began with handling books and turning individual pages, then extended into acting out stories. Imaginary woodland creatures prompted children to invent a den. These were opportunities to use language and develop ideas, rather than simply listen to an adult.

In February 2024, children had access to the garden for most of the day. Older children climbed trees during forest school, an outdoor learning approach, while younger children practised balance on obstacle courses. Counting was woven into movement games. The physical activity and learning belonged together.

In February 2024, children had close relationships with staff, who used repeated words, new vocabulary and nursery rhymes to support communication. Simple signs helped children who were not yet speaking express their needs. Targeted activities also encouraged attention and listening.

Mealtimes offered another chance to practise independence: children served food and afterwards cleaned their plates and cutlery. Hygiene teaching was less consistent. In February 2024, children sometimes shared drinking cups, creating a cross-infection risk; staff coaching also needed a sharper emphasis on understanding the curriculum.

Ofsted's later compliance outcomes recorded corrective action following health-related failures in October 2024, June 2025 and January 2026, covering medication and emergency responses, communication with parents and health care, and action when children were ill; the June 2025 outcome also recorded late notification of a significant event and an unreported manager change, offences for which no further action was taken on that occasion. Health procedures therefore deserve close attention alongside the earlier inspection judgement.

The address is Isle of Wight College, Dodnor Lane, Newport, PO30 5TA. Opening hours are 6am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. That broad opening window can accommodate early starts and late finishes.

In February 2024, the nursery received funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds. At that date, Mini Beasts provided holiday care for children over five. This was a separate holiday offer alongside the nursery provision.

• Health procedures. Health-related compliance findings recurred across October 2024, June 2025 and January 2026, with corrective action recorded. On a visit, ask staff to explain how medication, illness and emergency procedures work in practice.
• Everyday hygiene and teaching. February 2024 improvement points concerned shared drinking cups and curriculum coaching. Ask how staff now teach hygiene and receive support with planning children's learning.
• Your child's attendance. The nursery opens from 6am to 8pm across the working week. Discuss the booking pattern and written charge breakdown for your intended hours, including funded entitlement, meals and consumables.

Families needing early or late care have a substantial opening window here. The February 2024 account also gives outdoor play and everyday independence real substance. The balance is important: a Good inspection sits alongside repeated later health-related compliance findings, making practical explanations of current care procedures central to choosing this nursery.