Woodberry Day Nursery, Fawley

Goldfish, a garden pond and resident guinea pigs give Woodberry Day Nursery, Fawley a recognisable character on the edge of the New Forest. This purpose-built setting in Holbury brings nature into children's everyday learning: feeding fish, watching animals and exploring outdoors give children something real to investigate and care for.

The nursery takes children aged 3 months to 5 years and has capacity for 70 children in total. At its 8 August 2023 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good, while identifying two teaching priorities: clearer understanding of curriculum aims among staff and more thinking time for children answering questions. That balance matters. There were positive findings, alongside specific points for families to explore.

Attendance can follow an all-year, term-time or funded-only schedule, with morning, afternoon and full-day sessions among the choices.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care, with play providing opportunities to practise communication, movement and relationships. At Fawley, independent exploration sits alongside activities guided by adults. The nursery's curriculum brings together physical confidence, literacy, creativity, outdoor exploration and awareness of the senses.

Alongside that framework, the group-wide Critical And Creative Thinkers commitment centres on exploring ideas and solving problems. Explorers of Our World, another group-wide commitment, connects learning with nature and outdoor experiences. The pond gives those broad ideas a concrete expression here: children use observation trays, binoculars and a thermometer, feed the goldfish and investigate pond life. There is a purpose to the equipment.

In August 2023, babies investigated sounds by bringing wooden blocks together, while older children played colour-based guessing games. Small-group singing involved taking turns as animals in Old McDonald, and books were shared at different points in the day. These examples show how listening and language practice could sit within familiar play, rather than depending on a separate lesson.

Outdoor and Community Life

A bridge in the garden adds a physical challenge to the garden, while the fountain, waterfall and wind chimes provide sounds for younger children to explore. Current outdoor provision includes free-flow access during the day. Guinea pigs add another opportunity to learn about caring for living things.

In August 2023, outdoor play included cycling, sand exploration and hide-and-seek. A lending library also allowed children to borrow books for reading at home. That was a practical connection between nursery learning and family life, extending shared reading beyond the nursery day.

In August 2023, staff comforted children who needed reassurance and had close relationships with their key children. Everyday independence received attention too: children were encouraged to persevere with putting on shoes, wiping their noses and washing their hands. These were small tasks with useful consequences, giving children opportunities to do more for themselves.

At the August 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children, including those learning English as an additional language, making good progress towards their next stage of learning. Games about feelings encouraged children to consider how others might feel and how they could help. In August 2023, older children also reminded younger ones about behaviour expectations, making those expectations part of interactions between children.

Communication had a practical structure in August 2023: parents received end-of-day information from the key person and through an online journal. Staff supervision meetings provided opportunities to identify training needs and arrange further learning. These are dated observations, but useful topics when considering how relationships and communication work for a family.

Meals are prepared fresh at the nursery each day, using seasonal ingredients. This keeps food preparation on site rather than relying on meals being brought in.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 1 Rollestone Road, Holbury, Southampton, SO45 2GD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 51 weeks of the year; closures include bank holidays and a week at Christmas. The opening window is wider than the session times, so families should distinguish the hours the building operates from the care pattern they book.

The All Year Schedule covers 51 weeks, while the Term Time Only Schedule covers 38 weeks. Both include a Full Day from 8am to 5.45pm, a PM Session from 1pm to 5.45pm and a School Day from 8.30am to 2.30pm. The School Day is an attendance label for nursery care.

Morning timings depend on the arrangement. For children aged 3 months to 3 years who are not receiving Nursery Education Funding, the AM Session runs from 8am to 12.45pm; for funded children aged 2 to 5 on the all-year or term-time schedules, it runs from 8am to 1pm. The Funded Only Schedule covers 38 weeks and includes mornings from 8am to 12.45pm, afternoons from 1pm to 5.45pm and full days from 8am to 5.45pm.

On the funded Term Time Only Schedule, a retainer holds the chosen days through holiday periods and allows extra holiday sessions to be booked. That makes the holiday arrangement part of the decision, even for families choosing attendance during term time.

Getting There

There is a large on-site car park. The nursery is on Rollestone Road by the traffic lights, with bus stops nearby. Direct enquiries can be made by telephone on 023 8089 0088 or by email to fawley@woodberrynursery.co.uk.

Funding and Paid Extras

Nursery Education Funding is offered, with both funded and privately paid attendance arrangements. The Funded Only Schedule runs across 38 weeks; all-year and term-time schedules also include arrangements for funded children aged 2 to 5. Hours beyond a child's funding are charged separately.

For funded attendance, lunch and tea carry separate charges according to the session, and daily consumables are charged separately too: these cover wipes, nappies, toiletries, sun cream and replenishable resources. The funded term-time arrangement also includes its retainer charge. Families receive current prices in the nursery's written quotation; the Fawley fees and forms page sets out the attendance schedules and charge categories.

• Teaching consistency. In August 2023, some staff needed a clearer grasp of curriculum aims and children sometimes faced questions too quickly. During a visit, ask how staff plan activities and allow children time to think and answer.
• The morning-session difference. Funded mornings on the all-year and term-time schedules finish at 1pm, while privately paid mornings and funded-only mornings finish at 12.45pm. Match the actual session to your collection arrangements.
• Term-time costs. The funded term-time schedule includes a holiday retainer as well as separate food and consumables charges. Consider the whole attendance arrangement, including what you expect to use during holidays.

Fawley suits families who value outdoor investigation and practical experiences with living things, whether they need morning sessions, afternoon care, a School Day or full days. The pond equipment, garden access and guinea pigs give that preference something tangible to rest on.

The August 2023 Good judgement provides a dated quality reference, with teaching consistency and the pace of questioning remaining useful discussion points. Attendance choice is another strength, provided families distinguish session timings and account for the extras attached to funded care.