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Southampton University Early Years Centre

Ofsted: Good
(Feb 2024)
·
5.0(4 parent reviews) ·Building 41, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ · Southampton
Number of places
120 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Feb 2024
Local authority
Southampton

About this day nursery

Southampton University Early Years Centre, registered in 1976, provides childcare on non-domestic premises. Located in a university building in Southampton, it caters to children aged 0 to 4 with a capacity of 120 places and 110 children currently on roll.

45 pm. With 32 staff members, all holding childcare qualifications from level 2 to level 6, the centre is committed to fostering a happy and secure environment where children are enthusiastic learners.

The leadership consistently evaluates and improves the provision, focusing on children's natural curiosity and development. The centre effectively supports children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who speak English as an additional language, working closely with external professionals to implement targeted interventions.

The centre also places a high importance on promoting healthy lifestyles, cultural awareness, and strong early literacy skills among the children. Parents highly praise the education and care their children receive, noting significant progress in their speech, confidence, independence, and social skills.

What it's like

All staff ensure that children are happy, secure and ready to learn in this diverse nursery. Children form strong bonds with staff and quickly immerse themselves in their play and explorations. They are enthusiastic learners. For example, babies love starting their day outdoors. Toddlers confidently follow all daily routines, including washing their hands before snack and helping to load the dishwasher afterwards. Children love books and avidly listen to stories, sitting close to staff. Pre-school children experiment with real objects in the sand tray. They collaboratively discuss different ways to fill and empty containers with their friends. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children mimic staff's good qualities, showing sensitivity and respect towards others.

Diverse nurseryStrong bondsEnthusiastic learnersHealthy lifestylesCultural awarenessEarly literacy

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5.45pm

Term time / All Year

All_year

Established

1976

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Southampton University Early Years Centre

Last inspected 2 February 2024

Overall effectiveness
Good

What it's like to attend

All staff ensure that children are happy, secure and ready to learn in this diverse nursery. Children form strong bonds with staff and quickly immerse themselves in their play and explorations. They are enthusiastic learners. For example, babies love starting their day outdoors. Toddlers confidently follow all daily routines, including washing their hands before snack and helping to load the dishwasher afterwards. Children love books and avidly listen to stories, sitting close to staff. Pre-school children experiment with real objects in the sand tray. They collaboratively discuss different ways to fill and empty containers with their friends. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children mimic staff's good qualities, showing sensitivity and respect towards others.

Inspector highlights

  • All staff ensure that children are happy, secure and ready to learn in this diverse nursery.
  • Children form strong bonds with staff and quickly immerse themselves in their play and explorations.
  • Leaders constantly evaluate the quality of the provision and identify areas for improvement.
  • Children make good progress in their learning and development, including children with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language.
  • Leaders are reflective and committed to continual improvement, creating a curriculum that builds on children's natural curiosity.
  • Staff place a high importance on sharing books with children and extending this to parents.
  • Leaders and staff work closely with external professionals to implement targeted interventions successfully.
  • Staff recognise the importance of raising children's awareness of the variety of cultures and languages at the nursery.
  • Children learn to adopt healthy lifestyles.
  • Parents highly praise the education and care their children receive.

Areas to develop

  • 1Enhance the support for individual staff to interact more effectively with children, and to understand how to use what they know about children to plan more precisely to meet their needs.
Inspection #10305191 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make good progress in their learning and development. Leaders and staff work closely with external professionals to implement targeted interventions successfully. The special educational needs coordinator oversees children with SEND, monitors their progress, makes referrals for additional support, and keeps parents fully informed. Additional funding for children with SEND is used effectively to buy interesting resources.

Outdoor space

Babies love starting their day outdoors. Children have daily opportunities to build their stamina as they run, jump and balance with increasing agility in the fresh air.

EAL / language support

Children who speak English as an additional language make good progress in their learning and development. Staff also recognise the importance of raising children's awareness of the variety of cultures and languages at the nursery, with children hearing words from different languages and discussing similarities and differences.

Parent Reviews of Southampton University Early Years Centre

5.0
(4)
Konstantinos Gatsis
7 months ago

We loved our time at the Early Years Centre last year! You can tell that the management is doing something excellent, the kids are happy, the environment is beautiful, and each one of the staff is welcoming, knowledgeable, and supportive. A huge thank you to our most wonderful key person Maria, to Indira, Jackie, and everyone who supported us!

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Mónica Conceição
2 years ago

Reflecting on the remarkable journey of the past 5 years, during which my family has grown to include three beautiful children (all under your care), I am compelled to express an immense and heartfelt THANK YOU! Moving to the UK in 2016 and welcoming our first child in 2019 presented challenges, as we navigated parenthood without any family support When the moment arrived to choose a nursery, my anxiety and nerves were palpable. Having explored numerous options, none seemed to resonate for our firstborn. However, the day I stepped into EYC, a profound sense of comfort enveloped my heart. Every detail and gesture exuded warmth and genuine care, creating an atmosphere that embraced us with love. The decision to entrust our 3 children to EYC has been one of the best we've made, and for that, we are eternally grateful.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Southampton University Early Years Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: January 2011

  • February 2024Good
  • February 2018Good
  • April 2015Good
  • March 2014Requires improvement
  • January 2011Good

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