Opening hours
7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday
YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Mar 2024)
Number of places
62 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Mar 2024
Local authority
Portsmouth
About this day nursery
YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery, situated in Portsmouth, provides a play-based learning environment for children, focusing on fostering development in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The curriculum is designed to support each child's individual growth, catering to their unique interests and needs.
The nursery emphasizes creating a safe, stimulating, and inclusive setting where children feel empowered to explore and learn. They believe in the importance of outdoor play and offer various activities to encourage physical development and a connection with nature.
The nursery is also part of the broader YMCA Fairthorne Group, which has a long-standing commitment to youth development and community support. This affiliation allows them to draw upon a wealth of experience and resources to enhance the nursery experience for the children in their care.
The nursery aims to prepare children for their next steps in education by building foundational skills and a love for learning.
Our ethos
The YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery provides a play-based learning environment with a focus on fostering development in a fun and engaging atmosphere. They believe in the importance of outdoor play and aim to prepare children for their next steps in education by building foundational skills and a love for learning.
What it's like
Staff warmly welcome children and their families into this inclusive nursery. Children arrive happy and settle quickly. Staff know the children well and plan activities that they know they will enjoy, promoting children's curiosity and motivation to learn.
Play-based learningOutdoor play emphasizedPart of YMCA Fairthorne Group
Pricing & funding
Fees are structured around full days, morning, or afternoon sessions, with a discounted weekly rate for five full days. Additional hours and hot lunches can be purchased separately. Funding for eligible three and four-year-olds and Tax-Free Childcare are accepted.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)Tax-Free Childcare
Good to know
- Registration fee: £50.00.
- Deposit required: £100.00.
- Hot lunch available for £4.00 if not included in the session.
- Accepts 15 and 30 hours funding for 3 and 4-year-olds.
- Accepts Tax-Free Childcare.
Key facts
Age range
3 months to 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Food
Nutritious meals and snacks provided
Established
2006
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery
Last inspected 19 March 2024
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff warmly welcome children and their families into this inclusive nursery. Children arrive happy and settle quickly. Staff know the children well and plan activities that they know they will enjoy, promoting children's curiosity and motivation to learn.
Inspector highlights
- The experienced leadership team has worked hard to raise the quality of teaching since the last inspection.
- Partnership with parents is highly effective.
- Staff develop a curriculum that is ambitious and exciting. They focus on supporting children to become resilient, confident and independent learners.
- The special educational needs coordinator works well with other professionals, parents and staff.
- Staff provide children with a good range of opportunities to develop their independence skills.
Areas to develop
- 1improve the development of children's language and communication skills by using questioning more effectively.
Inspection #10290980 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents value the amazing support from the staff team.
Parents commend staff's understanding of the challenges that naval families experience.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
The special educational needs coordinator works well with other professionals, parents and staff. She ensures that there is a highly inclusive environment for children. Staff understand children's individual needs, and skilfully deliver targeted activities to close any gaps in learning. This helps to ensure that children receive the support they need swiftly.
Outdoor space
Children understand how to use the physical apparatus outside safely. Older children are keen to take part in bug hunts, using checklists of minibeasts and distinguishing between the different bugs they find.
Parent Reviews of YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery
4.7
(19)
Michael Hutchinson
a year ago
Exceptional Nursery. Sarah and the team work really hard to make this a welcoming and inclusive environment. They accommodate the needs of individual children and parents. The nursery has a very good programme for military children that helps them cope when a parent is deployed. It includes a dedicated care worker who will work with you to develop a tailored package to deal with individual needs. It is outstanding. They look after the children superbly and the location benefits from safe and secure walks. Marching bands and the odd Royal visitor.
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SK
a year ago
My daughter is very shy and has always been very clingy with me so I knew it would be hard when the time came for her to start nursery. She joined Little Whale nursery at only ten months and despite the emotional start, she now at age 3 loves going in, has a great relationship with the staff and has friends there who she looks forward to seeing every day. Her confidence has grown and grown and it's so nice driving away in the morning knowing she is going to have a great day. Everyone is very kind and I love the fact that the children get so much time in the garden to enjoy the fresh air! Thank you all for all you do.
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Hannah Mason
a year ago
My 2 year old twins have been attending YMCA Little Whale Nursery for 3 months and they love it. They call the nursery staff thier best friends and love playing in the big adventure play park attached to the nursery. They get lunch and tea provided which saves me so much hassle while working and the menus are fantastic. We are very happy here.
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daniella liparoti
a year ago
All three of my daughters have attended the nursery over the course of 12 years with my youngest daughter starting three weeks ago. The nursery is a magical as the very first day we joined all those years ago and the staff are so welcoming and friendly. The updates on my daughters daily antics are wonderful. We couldn't be happier with our decision to return to YMCA third time round.
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Lindsay Carnie
a year ago
Highly recommend YMCA Little Whale Nursery. The staff are lovely and supportive and have been a great comfort to our family, specifically during times of deployment. A lot of time is spent outside, not only playing but learning new life skills. The environment feels very safe and it is great to know that they can go on walks, exploring and learning road safety on the base.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Improved from Requires improvement → Good in 2024
Date: June 2010
- March 2024Good
- April 2023Requires improvement
- August 2019Good
- March 2014Outstanding
- June 2010Good
Frequently asked about YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery
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