The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Portsdown Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A roadway for bikes and trucks, reading dens and a mud kitchen give Portsdown’s nursery a day built around doing, talking and exploring. Caterpillars Nursery and Butterflies Pre-school form part of Portsdown Primary School in Wymering, Portsmouth, with provision for children aged two to four.
At the inspection on 19 and 20 March 2024, Ofsted graded early years provision Good. Children were gaining independence and confidence from nursery onwards, with the mud kitchen and newly hatched chicks providing memorable experiences.
Play carries the learning. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical and social development with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Children join groups with a key person and also pursue their own interests, supported by adults. Staff use observations to plan what each child tackles next, so the activities connect with their development rather than simply filling a session.
Daily access to indoor and outdoor areas gives children several ways to explore the same ideas. Enclosed outdoor spaces combine grass, tarmac and protective play surfacing. Bikes and trucks have a purpose-designed roadway; hills and climbing equipment offer physical challenges. Sand, water and mud invite experiments with materials, while planting and harvesting connect children with growing food. Indoors and outside, labelled resources help children choose equipment and put it away themselves.
Stories, songs and practical play supply the foundations for reading and maths. Books feature in daily story sessions, and nursery children take books home to enjoy with their families. Phase 1 phonics develops through everyday activities and small groups, alongside the school’s Little Wandle programme. Counting games, rhymes and objects children can handle make maths concrete. Role play, painting and construction let children develop ideas and talk about what they have made.
In March 2024, children were beginning to identify letters and sounds from nursery. There was also a qualification across the school’s phonics programme: regular training had not yet made every member of staff confident in delivering it as intended.
The key person provides a focus for group learning in both Caterpillars and Butterflies. Staff discuss children’s development with families and agree their next learning steps. In March 2024, relationships with adults helped early years children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), develop social skills and learn to cooperate and share.
Support draws on the school’s SEND coordinator, with parents invited to termly reviews when their child is on the SEND register. That gives families a regular opportunity to discuss provision and progress. Nursery staff also consult families through everyday contact and questionnaires.
Care includes facilities for daytime sleep when needed, alongside cooking, snacks and meals. Mid-session snacks carry no charge. Families whose child attends all day can purchase a hot meal. Children are supported towards greater independence with toileting and thorough handwashing, making everyday care part of their learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Portsmouth City Council’s normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their entry year.
Learning progression is planned across nursery and Reception in communication, physical development, social development, literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. This provides continuity in what children learn. It is separate from the allocation of a school place.
Main sessions run from 9am to noon, noon to 3pm, or 9am to 3pm. Provision follows school terms, excluding bank holidays and five INSET days. The nursery does not accommodate changing shift rotas through flexible bookings, so families need a session pattern that fits their routine.
Eligible families can access 30 funded hours; at Portsdown, funding can be used after a child turns two and only during term time. Eligibility must be reconfirmed each term. Unfunded sessions are charged, payments are made monthly in advance through SCOPAY, and booked absences remain chargeable. Ask the school for current charges. Contributions towards activities are voluntary, and children are not excluded because their family cannot contribute.
Before-school care runs from 7.45am to 9am, subject to sufficient numbers, and requires advance monthly booking and payment. Farlington Wraparound accepts children aged three or over for after-school care up to 6pm. Nursery enquiries go through admin@portsdown.portsmouth.sch.uk or 02392 378991; telephone extension 2 reaches Butterflies and extension 3 reaches Caterpillars. Nursery applications are returned to the school office or nursery with the child’s birth certificate.
The nursery caters for children aged two to four, within Portsdown Primary School.
The main options are 9am to noon, noon to 3pm and 9am to 3pm, during school terms.
Before-school care runs from 7.45am to 9am, depending on sufficient numbers and with advance booking and payment. Children aged three or over can use Farlington Wraparound after school up to 6pm.
Mid-session snacks are provided without charge. Families can purchase a hot meal when their child attends all day.
No. A separate application is required through Portsmouth City Council’s normal school admissions process.
