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Muddy Boots Day Nursery in Waterlooville

Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(9 Google reviews) ·Horndean Community Association, Merchistoun Hall, Waterlooville, PO8 9LJ · Hampshire
Number of places
20 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2026
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Muddy Boots Day Nursery in Waterlooville, Hampshire, caters for children aged 2 to 4 years old, with plans to expand care to under-2s from September 2026. Open 51 weeks a year, Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, the day nursery focuses on outdoor learning and fostering a deep connection with nature.

Situated within four acres of landscaped grounds, it offers diverse outdoor spaces including a garden, pond, trees, and a woodland trail, complementing its stimulating indoor environment. The approach aims to cultivate happy, confident, and creative individuals with a lifelong appreciation for learning, integrated through a gentle daily rhythm that allows children to explore and develop at their own pace.

The nursery prides itself on being an integral part of the local community, embracing various family backgrounds and cultural traditions while providing affordable childcare.

Our ethos

At Muddy Boots Day Nursery, we believe in the power of outdoor learning and the positive impact it has on a child's development. Our nurturing environment encourages exploration, creativity, and a love for nature. We aim for children to grow into happy, self-confident and creative individuals, inspiring a lifelong love of learning through a gentle daily rhythm giving them the time and space to develop their relationship with the natural world.

What it's like

Children arrive eager to begin their day at this nursery. Those needing extra support receive reassuring words and comforting cuddles from familiar staff, enabling them to settle quickly. Children benefit from a well-designed, broad curriculum, supporting steady progress from their starting points, and have abundant opportunities to explore the outdoors, becoming curious and confident explorers.

Outdoor LearningNature-focusedFlexible BookingCommunity-focused

Pricing & funding

Muddy Boots Day Nursery offers sessions including morning, afternoon, school day, and full day options. Fees are paid monthly in advance. A sustainability charge applies to funded sessions, and a non-refundable registration fee is required upon joining.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Fees are paid monthly in advance by the 10th of each month.
  • All booked hours must be paid for, even if the child does not attend.
  • A 4-week notice period is required to terminate a child's booking.
  • A sustainability charge of £1.50 applies per funded session for consumables and activities, unless the family receives Early Years Pupil Premium.
  • A 40% discount off fees may be offered via email if space is available.
  • Emergency one-off bookings are available with a £15 registration fee if space allows.

Key facts

Opening hours

8am till 6pm Monday to Friday for 51 weeks of the year (closed Christmas week and bank holidays)

Age range

2 to 4 years (expanding to under 2s from Sep 2026)

Session types

Morning Session, Afternoon Session, School Day Session, Full Day

Term time / All Year

All_year

Registered with Ofsted

2024

Ofsted Inspection — new report card

Expected standard

Last inspected Jul 2026

Headline: Expected 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

AchievementExpected standard
Behaviour, attitudes and establishing routinesExpected standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
2 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register
Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted report for Muddy Boots Day Nursery

Last inspected 29 July 2026

What it's like to attend

Children arrive eager to begin their day at this nursery. Those needing extra support receive reassuring words and comforting cuddles from familiar staff, enabling them to settle quickly. Children benefit from a well-designed, broad curriculum, supporting steady progress from their starting points, and have abundant opportunities to explore the outdoors, becoming curious and confident explorers.

Inspector highlights

  • Safeguarding standards are met, with an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
  • Children make steady progress in their development, building communication and language skills.
  • Children learn to be curious, eagerly exploring insects and their habitats and enjoying outdoor activities.
  • Staff have high, yet appropriate, expectations of children's behaviour and teach them positive social skills.
  • Staff understand the importance of building warm, nurturing relationships with all children.
  • Children are well supported to keep themselves safe and develop healthy habits.

Areas to develop

  • 1Leaders should review the organisation of some routine times to ensure all children are consistently supported to achieve high levels of engagement and benefit from consistency in interactions.
  • 2Leaders should support staff to recognise when children need time to process and respond to information or questions, enabling them to deepen their critical thinking and fully promote communication skills.
  • 3Leaders should strengthen their approach to supporting children and families to understand healthy screen use so that children develop positive habits that support their health, wellbeing and development.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Leaders and staff create an inclusive environment where children, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, feel welcome. Staff identify any gaps in children's learning promptly and provide specialist support when necessary, with individual plans targeting precise next steps.

Outdoor space

Children benefit from regular access to the outdoors where they develop their physical skills such as climbing and balancing, learning to manoeuvre their whole bodies and safely climb a low-level tree. They also use magnifying glasses and checklists to explore the nature garden, seeking out and learning about different insects and bugs.

Google Reviews of Muddy Boots Day Nursery

5.0
(9 Google reviews)
Mia Harrington
a year ago

My daughter absolutely loves going to Muddy Boots, she looks forward to her time there and the family feel environment they provide gives me every comfort a parent needs that she will have the best day with Chelene and her team. The outdoor space is lovely and their approach to early years is calming, warm and above all fun, indoors and outdoors. Highly recommend.

Read on Google
Charlie Collier
a year ago

My son started at muddy boots when it opened in September and has grown so much already, his speech and communication, socialising, making friends and overall confidence has come on so much. We love that he is outdoors every day regardless of the weather and has so much fun, he has been so happy going to nursery since his first day compared to a previous nursery where he was very shy and nervous to attend. Chelene, Sam and the team have welcomed him in and made such a homely environment that he is completely comfortable.

Read on Google
Maria
a year ago

So pleased I chose to send my little one to Muddy Boots. Chelene and the team are so lovely, nurturing and caring. My little one loves to go to nursery and always has the best time! Such a lovely, calm environment with lots of positivity and support for parents as well as the children. Highly recommend!

Read on Google
Parklane Manager
a year ago

Chelene and the team are wonderful. The ethos of the nursery is to get the children into nature, which our son absolutely loves. We moved him from a big nursery that had an artificial garden and it’s the best thing we have done. Although there is a lot of muddy clothing, there are so many smiles and I can feel the enjoyment he has had at the end of the day. Because of the smaller nature of the setting, while younger children nap in the quiet room, the older children get focus time to prepare them for school with activities which help them with phonics, fine motor skills and creativity. Although the facilities could seem small there is so much fun packed into each and every day. No matter what the weather the children play outside and the extensive grounds of the hall are explored. The team in Merchistoun Hall are lovely and welcoming and moving our son here has been the best decision we have made.

Read on Google
Amanda
a year ago

My son loves going to Muddy Boots. The staff are friendly and caring. Much of their learning is done outside but they also have a lovely indoor space. The environment is warm and welcoming. It’s a wonderful place for children to learn and grow.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Muddy Boots Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Most recent inspection

29 July 2026

Expected standard

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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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