Nursery Advice
Claim Your Nursery

Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Mar 2024)
·
3.2(9 parent reviews) ·Spring Meadow Childrens Centre, Smannell Road, Andover, SP11 6JP · Hampshire
Number of places
85 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Hampshire

About this day nursery

Shepherds Spring Pre-school Nursery, established in 1967, is a long-standing early years provider in Andover, known for its nurturing environment and commitment to childhood development. The nursery caters to children aged 3 months to 5 years, fostering learning and growth through play-based activities.

With a team of highly qualified and experienced staff, many holding NVQ3 qualifications and specialisations such as SENCo, the nursery prides itself on delivering high-quality care and education. They adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards, ensuring a comprehensive framework for learning.

The setting offers a "home-from-home" atmosphere, aiming to create a comfortable and stimulating space where children can thrive. Additionally, Shepherds Spring provides hot meals by order and operates a Holiday Club during the summer months to support continuous development.

The nursery holds a strong reputation, having been assessed by Ofsted and consistently striving for positive assessments.

Our ethos

Shepherds Spring Pre-school Nursery adopts the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards for the learning, development, and care of very young children. They encourage learning through play, involving mental stimulation, social, and sensual activities. The nursery aims to deliver the highest quality of care and education to help children achieve their best, providing a caring atmosphere for young children to learn and develop.

What it's like

Staff place a very strong focus on children's happiness and well-being, planning enriching activities that build on children's interests and developmental needs. They have very high expectations, and children behave extremely well, understanding the rules and boundaries. Children's independence is key, with activities like using pretend coins for fish and chips promoting language and social skills.

Established since 1967Play-based learningEYFS curriculumHot meals availableHoliday Club

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

Request pricing →

Key facts

Age range

3 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery

Last inspected 6 March 2024 · Lindsay Osman

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Staff place a very strong focus on children's happiness and well-being, planning enriching activities that build on children's interests and developmental needs. They have very high expectations, and children behave extremely well, understanding the rules and boundaries. Children's independence is key, with activities like using pretend coins for fish and chips promoting language and social skills.

Inspector highlights

  • The inspirational leadership team constantly strives to make improvements to the nursery, encouraging staff to develop their knowledge and skills.
  • The qualified special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) attend regular training, conduct comprehensive assessments shortly after children start, and work effectively with other agencies to ensure children receive targeted support.
  • The leadership team and staff devised three aspirations for the nursery to give the children valuable life skills, which they use to sequence the curriculum, leading to excellent progress.
  • The determined team is keen to meet children's needs, taking time to get to know families and the community, and providing a broad, outdoor-based curriculum.
  • Partnership with parents is exemplary; families receive the support they need, and staff involve parents in their children's learning.
  • Practitioners support children's personal development extremely well, including constant access to fresh air and exercise, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Inspection #10331766 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

the staff are amazing and the support they receive from them is incredible.

This includes visiting them when their children are poorly and physical hand holding to get them through the day.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Small, focussed groups and targeted plans help children to develop at their own pace. As a result, all children including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make exceptional progress from their starting points. The qualified special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) attend regular training to update their skills and knowledge. They share this information with the team. This helps to ensure all staff are as skilled as possible to meet the needs of the children. The SENCOs conduct comprehensive assessments shortly after the children start at the nursery. This enables them to take swift and prompt action so that children receive support at the earliest possible opportunity. They work extremely effectively with all other agencies to ensure children receive targeted support. The SENCOs observe children and work with key persons to fully implement action plans. They review these regularly to ensure they continue to meet the children's needs.

Outdoor space

Staff use the vast outdoor space incredibly well, creating learning experiences for children to develop their skills at every opportunity. Older children spend most of their time outside and benefit from the fresh air and exercise this brings. Children flourish in a language-rich environment, inside and out. The leadership team have purchased two yurts to provide outdoor classrooms to enhance the facilities further. They use funding incredibly effectively to meet the needs of the children. The leadership team purchased gardening tools, maths, and language games to support individuals' needs.

Parent Reviews of Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery

3.2
(9)
daniela beilic
3 years ago

Bad experience ! They tried way to many time to take more money than I had to pay ! My son was bitten 2 times until the blood, by the same kid . Also they kept my son outside without adequate clothes, and not once, I had to use antibiotics because he get cold quick. If I were you ? I will never bring my son/ daughter there ! Ask around, a lot of parents share same experience. I am sorry now that I didn't take legal action against them for the bites!

Read on Google
Morgan Cooper
3 years ago

A joke of a nursery, been on the waiting list 5 months, gone in, called up, emailed regarding needing a space and being on the waiting list. Only to find out they’re taking on other children and my son has been removed from the list when he was the front of the line! When calling up and asking him to be placed back at the front where he was they refused and blamed me (despite me having evidence of all correspondence) and said I will have to wait until 80 other children have been placed!

Read on Google
Jasmine Haswell
5 years ago

My son started back in September 2019 and due to lock down finished with them in March . But the staff here are amazing the support given to our son as well as us as a family is off the chart . They also contacted us through lockdown to see how everything was and even now are always on the end of the phone to help us with what they can . I really can not recommend this nursery enough . They will go above and beyond for any child and Their communication is nothing less than spot on ! We defiantly will miss them a lot .

Read on Google
Iulian Beilic
3 years ago

Our son was bite by another kid twice. I think we react to good at the time ,because our son was suffering at home and we didn't do nothing ...even now after 3 years I feel like I should smash their heads. A fantastic place not to go. Definitely not recommended I had to put 1 🌟 for this review but is to much anyway.

Read on Google
Ilse Purnell
7 years ago

Fabulous teachers and a very interactive, home-from-home setting. My daughter loves going to school and she adores her teacher and all her carers.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history
Improved from Good → Outstanding in 2024

Date: February 2018

  • March 2024Outstanding
  • February 2019Good
  • February 2018Inadequate

Frequently asked about Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery

About the setting

Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery registered in 2017. The setting is open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Friday for 50 weeks of the year. There are 31 staff, 20 hold relevant early years qualifications. The nursery provides funded early education for two, three-and-four-year-old children.

URN
EY552948
Registered person
Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery CIO
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

Nearby day nurseries in Andover

Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Shepherds Spring Pre-School Nursery.

Are you the owner of this nursery? Claim this listing to manage photos, hours and contact details.

Claim listing

Share this nursery

Send to a partner, friend or family member.

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