Opening hours
Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday : 07:30 - 18:00
Portico
Ofsted: Expected standard·
5.0(1 parent reviews)
·106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG · St Helens
Number of places
118 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Dec 2025
Local authority
St Helens
About this day nursery
Portico, a childcare on non-domestic premises setting in St Helens (WA9 5GG), has been serving the community since its registration in 2017. Open Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 18:00, it caters to children aged 0-4 years.
The nursery prides itself on an inclusive culture, where leaders and staff excel at identifying and understanding children's individual needs, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They gather comprehensive information upon enrolment and utilise focused assessments and screening tools to create a clear picture of each child's development.
The curriculum, based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), is thoughtfully structured from the baby room to pre-school, emphasising communication and promoting confidence and independence. Staff receive regular, targeted training to confidently support children with additional needs, ensuring all children make meaningful progress.
Children also benefit from daily outdoor play opportunities, helping them to develop essential skills and confidence in a safe and welcoming environment. Portico is committed to providing a secure and nurturing setting where children feel safe, settled, and well-prepared for their future learning.
Our ethos
Our aim is for children to grow with self confidence, autonomy and to develop an appetite for learning in a happy and caring environment.
What it's like
Children begin their day in a calm and welcoming environment, where they are greeted by staff who help them to feel settled and ready to play. Children enjoy exploring carefully planned environments that promote curiosity, independence and early learning. They develop the skills and confidence that prepare them well for future learning.
Calm environmentInclusive cultureEarly learningWell-prepared for schoolStrong staff support
Pricing & funding
Funding accepted
30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Pricing on request
This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.
Key facts
Age range
0-5 years
Established
2017
Ofsted Inspection — new report card
Expected standard
Last inspected Dec 2025
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 routinesStrong standard
Children's welfare and wellbeingExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
InclusionStrong standard
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Age range
0 to 4
Registers
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Portico
Last inspected 9 December 2025 · Kelly Little
What it's like to attend
Children begin their day in a calm and welcoming environment, where they are greeted by staff who help them to feel settled and ready to play. Children enjoy exploring carefully planned environments that promote curiosity, independence and early learning. They develop the skills and confidence that prepare them well for future learning.
Inspector highlights
- Leaders have established a very calm and positive environment, where expectations for children's behaviour are clear and consistently applied.
- Leaders have created a highly inclusive culture where staff identify and understand children's individual needs promptly and well.
- Children make steady progress from their starting points.
- Leaders have a clear understanding of how the curriculum builds from the baby room through to pre-school room.
- Leaders have established well-organised systems that support staffs' practice, professional growth and the smooth running of the setting.
Areas to develop
- 1Leaders should embed consistent expectations for developing children's independence, with particular regard to babies and younger children.
Inspection #10133747 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Leaders have created a highly inclusive culture where staff identify and understand children's individual needs promptly and well. They gather detailed information when children join the setting and use focused assessments such as the progress check when children are aged between two and three years, recognised speech and language screening tools and reviews linked to an education, health and care plan. Staff reduce children's barriers to participation through tailored adaptations, providing individualised approaches for children who require additional support, such as sensory regulation strategies, objects of reference, simplified language and visual sequencing. Leaders ensure that staff receive regular and targeted training on special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the graduated approach, so they confidently assess, plan, do and review support and understand their role in reducing barriers for children with additional needs. Children with SEND make meaningful progress because support is closely matched to what they require.
Outdoor space
Children have daily opportunities for outdoor play, and daily expectations around routines, including preparing for outdoor activities, are clear and predictable.
Parent Reviews of Portico
5.0
(1)
Man Siu
9 months ago
Reviews from Google for Portico. See all on Google Maps
Frequently asked about Portico
About the setting
Portico Day Nurseries Ltd registered on 04/09/2017 to provide childcare on non-domestic premises at 106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG. The setting operates Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 18:00. The setting is registered on the Early Years Register and compulsory part of the Childcare Register.
- URN
- EY552592
- Registered person
- Portico Day Nurseries Ltd
- Day care type
- Full day care
- Register
- Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register
- Establishment type
- Childcare on non-domestic premises
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