Opening hours
Monday to Friday 7:45am – 6:00pm, 50 weeks a year (closed Bank Holidays and two weeks over Christmas/New Year)
Highwood Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2025)
Number of places
71 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2025
Local authority
Hampshire
About this day nursery
Highwood Nursery, located on the Brockenhurst College campus, offers quality care and learning for children aged nine months to five years. The nursery is Ofsted-rated 'Good' across all key areas, including education quality, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.
Highwood Nursery provides a nurturing family-like environment where staff focus on children's happiness and well-being, responding enthusiastically to their needs and interests. The dedicated team, led by accomplished early years educator Sarah Bower since 2022, ensures children feel safe and secure, promoting confidence and independence through engaging activities.
Children are encouraged to develop positive attitudes towards learning and to persevere in their play. The facilities are open 50 weeks a year, from Monday to Friday, 7:45 am to 6:00 pm, catering to the local community, as well as Brockenhurst College staff and students.
The nursery operates three age-specific groups: Bunnies (3-30 months), Squirrels (30-44 months), and Owls (44 months-5 years). They offer flexible hourly sessions with a minimum requirement of eight hours or two four-hour sessions per week.
What it's like
Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. Staff help children to settle and place a strong focus on their happiness and well-being. They know the children well and respond to their needs and interests with enthusiasm. As a result, children feel safe and secure.
Ofsted-rated GoodLocated on college campusFlexible hoursAge-specific rooms
Pricing & funding
Fees are charged based on booked sessions with a strict minimum requirement of two four-hour sessions or eight hours per week. No fees are charged for bank holidays or scheduled nursery closures, but full fees apply for sickness, general absences, and family holidays.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds
Good to know
- Minimum booking of two four-hour sessions or eight hours per week.
- No charges are made for bank holidays or scheduled nursery closures.
- Full fees apply for absences due to illness or family holidays.
- Two weeks of notice is required to book paid sessions during school holidays for funded children.
- Late collection incurs a fee of £7.50 for every half hour.
Key facts
Session types
hourly sessions (minimum 4 hours/day or 8 hours/week)
Age range
3 months – 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
2014
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Highwood Nursery
Last inspected 3 September 2025 · Lindsay Osman
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arrive happily and separate from their parents with ease. Staff help children to settle and place a strong focus on their happiness and well-being. They know the children well and respond to their needs and interests with enthusiasm. As a result, children feel safe and secure.
Inspector highlights
- Staff plan a broad curriculum based on children's developmental needs and interests, providing many opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills and communication skills.
- Staff use praise and encouragement to support learning, and behaviour is good.
- Leadership and management are good, with staff valuing their relationship with the college and feeling supported in their roles.
- Skilled staff use expression extremely well to engage children in familiar books, developing children's communication skills and understanding of literacy.
- Staff help children to understand the importance of leading healthy lives by undertaking the 'daily mile' and teaching good hygiene practices.
Areas to develop
- 1n support staff to consistently provide children with opportunities to freely express their own creative ideas.
Inspection #10416369 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents are complimentary of nursery staff. They comment on the progress their children have made.
Parents value the ideas and activities to help support their children's learning at home.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
All children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make good progress from their starting points. The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.
Outdoor space
Staff help children to understand the importance of leading healthy lives. They undertake the 'daily mile' to encourage children's physical development and access to the outdoors.
Parent Reviews of Highwood Nursery
4.8
(4)
KDee Designs
3 years ago
Over the moon with finding Highwood Nursery for my little one. On viewing the Nursery I was so impressed with everything, the indoor and outdoor space, how the nursery was run and how they work with each child to develop there skills. My little one settled in no problem at all, I could call up and see how he was doing and it wasn't a problem the girls were excited to tell me how he was. I love how everyday I get updates through an app to what he's up to and photos of his fun. And at the end of each day a get a good update on how the whole day has been. He is the happiest little boy when I pick him up, it shows he has had the best day. The careers are amazing, they listen to what routines you have and work to them as much as possible, which puts my mind at ease. I honestly cannot recommend Highwood enough, I love it and so pleased I found it for me little one.
Read on Google
Jesamine Somerville
9 years ago
A wonderful nursery, my two little ones have been from the age of about 15 months. The staff are all very nurturing and I am so impressed with the children's development.
Read on Google
Stephanie
a year ago
Billy Hole
9 years ago
Reviews from Google for Highwood Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2016
- September 2025Good
- January 2020Good
- July 2016Outstanding
Frequently asked about Highwood Nursery
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