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Eco Montessori in Winchester

Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2024)
·
4.8(18 parent reviews) ·St. Johns Hall, St. Johns Street, Winchester, SO23 0HF · Hampshire
Number of places
52 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2024
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Eco Montessori Nursery provides a unique experience for children aged six months to four years, blending Montessori principles with Eco and Forest school approaches. This family-run nursery, with settings in Winchester and West Tytherley, focuses on fostering independence, curiosity, and a love for learning through thoughtfully designed activities that develop key skills in practical life, sensory exploration, language, and numeracy.

The dedicated staff guide each child individually, respecting their natural growth and interests. A core value of Eco Montessori is sustainability, engaging children in eco-friendly practices like gardening and recycling to cultivate an appreciation for nature and mindful global citizenship.

Both indoor and outdoor environments are crafted to inspire creativity and exploration, with a strong family-focused ethos ensuring personalised care for every child. The nursery aims to provide an enriching foundation, preparing children to become confident, capable individuals equipped with essential skills for their future educational journeys.

Our ethos

Eco Montessori Nursery's philosophy blends Montessori principles with Eco and Forest School approaches, focused on fostering independence, curiosity, and a love for learning. They emphasise sustainability, engaging children in eco-friendly practices and gardening, and aim to cultivate mindful global citizens. The nursery provides a family-focused ethos with personalised care and aims to build an enriching foundation for each child.

What it's like

Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment for children, following a familiar daily routine and building caring relationships. They offer a curriculum that combines the Montessori philosophy and early years foundation stage learning, with a well-sequenced literacy curriculum. Children display good behaviour, playing cooperatively and engaging confidently in activities.

Montessori MethodEco-friendly FocusForest SchoolFamily-run

Pricing & funding

The nursery offers full-day, morning, afternoon, and early riser sessions, with optional last-minute bookings. Fees include specialised Montessori and Forest School tuition, but meals are charged separately. Government funding can be used term-time or stretched over 51 weeks.

Funding accepted

15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
  • Securing Fee£65.00 / session
  • Optional Enhanced Curriculum & Extras contribution£1.00 / hour
  • Early Risers Club£5.00 / session
  • Day rate 08.00-18.00£87.00 / day
  • Morning half day rate 08.00-13.00£53.00 / session

Good to know

  • A securing fee is required to join the waiting list or secure a space, which is credited to the first month's fees.
  • One month's notice is given for any changes to the nursery pricing policy.
  • Settling-in consists of three recommended sessions, which are chargeable.
  • Fees include specialist Montessori and Forest School tuition, but lunch and tea are charged separately.
  • A 5% sibling discount is applied to the eldest child's nursery fees (excluding meals).
  • Funding can be stretched over 51 weeks or taken term-time, with an optional enhanced curriculum contribution.

Key facts

Opening hours

8:00am – 6:00pm, 51 weeks a year (except Public Holidays)

Session types

full day, half day, early risers club, sessional

Age range

6 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

March 2023

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Eco Montessori

Last inspected 23 January 2024 · Kelli Wiseman

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Staff provide a warm and welcoming environment for children, following a familiar daily routine and building caring relationships. They offer a curriculum that combines the Montessori philosophy and early years foundation stage learning, with a well-sequenced literacy curriculum. Children display good behaviour, playing cooperatively and engaging confidently in activities.

Inspector highlights

  • Children are becoming increasingly independent in their self-care skills.
  • Staff incorporate mathematics into everyday activities.
  • Children of all ages have lots of opportunities to develop their small muscles in their hands.
  • Staff support children's communication and language skills well, including using sign language with babies.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to further their skills in planning and delivering activities so that the learning intentions are more closely matched to the needs of the children taking part.
Inspection #10325018 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents comment on the progress their children have made since attending the nursery.

They know who their child's key person is and speak highly of the friendly team.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress. The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has a secure understanding of how to support children with SEND. She works closely with staff, parents and other professionals to create targeted plans. Staff use funding effectively to meet children's individual needs.

Parent Reviews of Eco Montessori

4.8
(18)
Sammy Forrester
8 months ago

I couldn’t recommend this nursery more if I tried! They have amazing, caring staff and management and both my boys come out with the biggest smiles on their faces every day they attend. I love how you know all the staff by name and even my one year old can name everyone! They have a perfect mix of Montessori teaching and eco teaching alongside extra activities such as weekly forest school, outings in Winchester, cooking, practical life skill learning and more. They go above and beyond with their teaching and soar above a traditional corporate nursery style. The staff are always very welcoming every morning and evening and truly care about the children and parents as well! They do all they can to be flexible and understanding in different ways! I would recommend any parent to have a look round and see it for themselves. I’ll be sad when my youngest reaches school age and leaves.

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Sandy Donald
8 months ago

Fab nursery, smaller groups than some of the bigger commercial providers providing more dedicated time with children. Our child has really excelled in learning since joining. Lots of extra events and activities run by the nursery throughout the year to give it a community feel and get involved.

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Brittany Collins
8 months ago

Amazing nursery! We love the staff, all the engaging activities they put on for the kids and how respectful they are too all parents - my girls have come on a lot since joining!!

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Olia Kontogianni
8 months ago

it really helped my child improve their speech, communication, and overall skills. Unlike many nurseries, it feels warm and personal.

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Lauren Mortimer
4 years ago

A lovely, small, and nurturing nursery environment. My 3 year old was unsettled and unhappy in a larger, popular Winchester nursery and so we moved her here in June 2021. The staff are wonderful! As a result of this, my daughter settled quickly and is now so happy. Aside from the creative, Montessori-led learning environment which has helped my daughter's independence blossom, the children regularly go out for walks on the moors and outings to town. This may not be the newest and smartest nursery around, but its home-from-home environment is what makes it so special.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Eco Montessori. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

23 January 2024

Good

Only one graded inspection on record — a trend chart will appear here once a second graded report is published.

View full Ofsted report

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