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Hippy Kids Playschool

Ofsted: Strong standard·
5.0(3 Google reviews) ·South Portslade Community Centre, Church Road, Brighton, BN41 1LB · Brighton and Hove
Number of places
45 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Apr 2026
Local authority
Brighton and Hove

About this day nursery

Hippy Kids Playschool in Portslade, Brighton, registered with Ofsted in 2024, provides childcare for children aged 1-4 years. The playschool operates year-round, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 18:00.

The setting prioritises a broad and engaging curriculum, designed to support all children's development from their starting points across all seven areas of learning, including those with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) or other barriers to learning. Children who require additional communication and language support benefit from nurture groups, and staff are skilled at adapting their approach to meet individual needs.

The playschool boasts a well-designed outdoor space, including a forest garden, which children access daily to develop their physical and exploratory skills. While the inspection report highlights significant safeguarding concerns related to recruitment and vetting procedures, it also notes that children are happy and content, forming strong bonds with staff and developing independence and self-confidence.

Parents have reported feeling well-informed and included, crediting staff for their children's progress.

What it's like

There are significant breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements that compromise children's safety. Recruitment and vetting procedures are not followed, and leaders do not ensure all staff are suitable before employment. Despite this, children are happy and content, forming close attachments to staff and developing self-confidence and independence.

Broad curriculumOutdoor learningEngaged childrenNurturing staff

Pricing & funding

The nursery charges flat hourly rates for non-funded hours alongside pay-as-you-go rates. Families using government-funded hours can choose between free standalone sessions, subject to limited availability, or flexible daily sessions that attract a surcharge with optional meal fees.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • A retainer fee is required to reserve a space, which is deducted from the first invoice and is non-refundable.
  • No retainer fee is charged for children taking a fully funded place.
  • Minimum booking requirement is two sessions per week, with each session being a minimum of three hours.
  • Full fees are payable for child sickness, child holidays, and bank holidays.
  • Invoices are payable one month in advance, and term-time contracts are available upon request.
  • The notice period required for all contracts is four weeks.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 08:00 - 18:00

Term time / All Year

All_year

Registered with Ofsted

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Strong standard

Last inspected Apr 2026

Headline: Strong standard

Grade summary

Exceptional
—
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
—
Urgent improvement
—

Each dot represents one of the six inspection categories. Headline is the average of the six grades, rounded up.

Category grades

AchievementStrong standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
Age range
1 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Hippy Kids Playschool

Last inspected 28 April 2026

Actions the provider must take

  • take action to ensure robust and effective recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to ensure the suitability of all individuals who have access to children and their families

What it's like to attend

There are significant breaches to the safeguarding and welfare requirements that compromise children's safety. Recruitment and vetting procedures are not followed, and leaders do not ensure all staff are suitable before employment. Despite this, children are happy and content, forming close attachments to staff and developing self-confidence and independence.

Inspector highlights

  • Children, including those who face barriers to their learning, make good progress from their starting points across all 7 areas of learning and development.
  • Leaders and staff have high but appropriate expectations of children's behaviour and attitudes to learning.
  • Children enjoy their play and learning in spaces that welcome and engage their individual curiosities.
  • The curriculum is designed to support children's development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who face other barriers to learning.
  • Children of all ages particularly benefit from the well-thought-out outdoor space which is regularly accessed daily.

Areas to develop

  • 1take action to ensure robust and effective recruitment and vetting procedures are in place to ensure the suitability of all individuals who have access to children and their families by 16/12/2025
Inspection #2768105 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children who receive additional support to develop their communication and/or language skills benefit from attending additional nurture groups within the playschool. Staff recognise when some children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities need adaptations to support and understand their own behaviours. The curriculum is designed to support children's development, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who face other barriers to learning across all 7 developmental areas. Leaders are ambitious for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and those who face other barriers to learning.

Outdoor space

Children of all ages particularly benefit from the well-thought-out outdoor space which is regularly accessed daily. The forest garden is well risk assessed and staff supervise children in the area well, providing an abundance of opportunities for physical skills like climbing, balancing, swinging, and navigating the forest.

Google Reviews of Hippy Kids Playschool

5.0
(3 Google reviews)
melanie stephenson
5 months ago

My grandchild loves going to play at hippy kids.the garden really used it n all weather which grandchild loves.happy happy natured and loved by staff they know my grandchild very well.🦋

Read on Google
Joseph Mansfield
11 years ago

Friendly, professional, creative childcare. Would recommend to anyone...

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Hippy Kids Playschool. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: December 2025

  • April 2026Strong standard
  • December 2025Expected standard

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more