Farlington Day Nursery

Bug hunts, ramp experiments and books taken home shaped children's experiences at Farlington Day Nursery in July 2025. At its July 2025 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall, with mathematics teaching and relationships with families among its strengths.

The nursery has capacity for 65 children aged 3 to 60 months, at 376 Havant Road in Farlington, Portsmouth. Its appeal lies in the detail of children's experiences: investigating how objects move, identifying creatures outdoors and sharing stories between nursery and home.

In July 2025, learning followed children's interests, with parents helping staff understand favourite toys and activities. The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care; here, the day included creative play, early mathematics and outdoor exploration.

Babies encountered counting through play in July 2025, while older children experimented with objects travelling down ramps. These were concrete ways to explore numbers and movement, rather than learning confined to a separate formal lesson. Painting, cutting tissue paper and assembling pictures also gave children opportunities to practise handling tools and express their ideas.

The garden added another setting for discovery in July 2025. Children mixed potions and searched for bugs, using identification sheets to work out what they had found. Kicking and throwing balls brought larger movements into outdoor play. Community experiences included activities with residents at a local care home, extending children's experience beyond their nursery companions.

At the July 2025 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) strengthened by collaboration with speech and language therapists on adaptable education plans.

In July 2025, babies received comfort and cuddles while settling, and older children put away their belongings independently. Staff explained behaviour expectations and the consequences of actions, giving children reasons for the rules they followed.

Communication connected home and nursery in July 2025. Parents valued contact with their child's key person, and staff shared ideas for continuing learning at home. Children borrowed books to enjoy with their families, then returned to discuss the stories with friends. That gave parents a specific way to participate in their child's learning.

The address is 376 Havant Road, Farlington, Portsmouth, PO6 1NF. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

In July 2025, the nursery received early education funding for eligible children.

• Protecting concentration. In July 2025, routines sometimes interrupted children who were absorbed in activities. During a visit, ask how staff now organise transitions so children can continue worthwhile play.
• Planning a baby's day. Comfort during settling was evident in July 2025. Ask how your baby's sleep and feeding routines would fit into their nursery day.
• Funding and the family budget. Early education funding was in use in July 2025. Ask for a written quotation showing how your intended attendance would combine funded hours, paid childcare, meals and consumables.

Farlington suits families who value learning through hands-on investigation and a connection between activities at home and nursery. The July 2025 experiences give that judgement substance, from ramp experiments to shared books. The practical point to explore is how daily routines protect children's concentration: interesting activities need time to develop.