Angelfish Preschool

About this day nursery

Angelfish Preschool, operating from Hayling Sports Centre on Hayling Island, provides a welcoming and nurturing environment where children aged 1 to 4 years settle quickly and develop strong bonds with attentive staff. The nursery, which received a "Good" rating in its January 2024 Ofsted inspection across all areas including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, focuses on fostering independence.

Children are encouraged to perform tasks themselves, such as cutting fruit and pouring milk, which staff praise to build confidence and motivation. The environment is described as inviting and well-organised, prompting children to engage joyfully in activities and explore resources with confidence.

Staff actively play with children, narrating activities to develop language skills and encouraging imaginative play that subtly incorporates early mathematical concepts, such as counting during a game. The preschool effectively promotes communication and language development through role-modelling, open-ended questions, and dual-language books.

Physical development is also prioritised, with children having continuous access to outdoor areas for climbing, balancing, and running, supporting large-muscle movements. The setting is particularly effective in supporting children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, with knowledgeable staff working closely with parents and professionals to provide targeted support.

Safeguarding arrangements are robust and effective, ensuring children are in a safe and secure environment. Since the previous inspection, the provider and manager have implemented significant improvements, including a new curriculum, which is currently being embedded to further enhance outcomes for all children and their families.

Our ethos

Angelfish Preschool fosters independence by encouraging children to perform tasks themselves and praising their efforts to build confidence. They aim to develop language skills through play and narration, incorporate early maths concepts, and promote physical development with continuous outdoor access. The nursery also provides targeted support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

What it's like

Children arrive at this welcoming community nursery and settle quickly, developing close and caring bonds with the attentive staff. The inviting and well-organised environment excites children, and they joyfully get involved with the activities set up for them, showing confidence as they access the variety of resources available. All children, including those in receipt of additional funding, make good progress and develop the skills they need for their future learning.