Best nurseries in Portsmouth
81 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, best Ofsted result first: the latest report card or overall grade, then the most recent inspection. Childminders are not listed (Ofsted does not publish their addresses).
| # | Nursery | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Discoveries Nursery Full day care · 43 places · PO16 9AD | Outstanding (2024) |
| 2 | Little Bears Forest Preschool Sessional day care · 34 places · PO4 8NB | Outstanding (2024) |
| 3 | The Play Academy Full day care · 80 places · PO5 1JF | Outstanding (2024) |
| 4 | Southsea Nature Nursery Sessional day care · 38 places · PO5 3QW | Outstanding (2024) |
| 5 | Canoe Lake Nursery Full day care · 56 places · PO4 9RF | Outstanding (2023) |
| 6 | Dolls House Nursery Full day care · 55 places · PO6 2JD | Outstanding (2023) |
| 7 | Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery Full day care · 80 places · PO5 2NR | Outstanding (2022) |
| 8 | The Elizabeth Foundation Sessional day care · 16 places · PO6 3LL | Outstanding (2022) |
| 9 | Stubbington Lodge Full day care · PO2 0HP | Outstanding (2022) |
| 10 | Milton Park Pre-School Full day care · 30 places · PO4 8ET | Good (2025) |
| 11 | The Haven Full day care · 56 places · PO1 4HA | Good (2025) |
| 12 | Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery Full day care · 40 places · PO5 3DZ | Good (2025) |
| 13 | Roberts Day Nursery Full day care · 41 places · PO1 5JJ | Good (2025) |
| 14 | Farlington Day Nursery Full day care · 65 places · PO6 1NF | Good (2025) |
| 15 | Dream Catchers playschool Cosham Sessional day care · 32 places · PO6 2JJ | Good (2025) |
| 16 | Top Tots Day Nursery Full day care · 53 places · PO1 3HN | Good (2025) |
| 17 | Red Barn Community Preschool Sessional day care · 26 places · PO16 8HJ | Good (2025) |
| 18 | Little Sunbeams Pre School Full day care · 45 places · PO2 0RH | Good (2025) |
| 19 | Twinkle Star Nursery Full day care · 46 places · PO2 0AD | Good (2025) |
| 20 | The Corner Pre-School Full day care · 26 places · PO3 6DE | Good (2025) |
| 21 | Little Learners Day Care Ltd Full day care · 63 places · PO1 5PR | Good (2025) |
| 22 | Top Tots Day Nursery Union Street Ltd Full day care · 50 places · PO1 3BY | Good (2025) |
| 23 | Little Lambs Nursery Full day care · 46 places · PO2 0UF | Good (2025) |
| 24 | Dream Catchers Play House Full day care · 30 places · PO6 2LG | Good (2025) |
| 25 | Dream Catchers Play School North End Sessional day care · 49 places · PO2 0JG | Good (2025) |
| 26 | Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery Full day care · 54 places · PO5 3DZ | Good (2025) |
| 27 | Northern Pre-School Full day care · 52 places · PO16 8DG | Good (2025) |
| 28 | Drayton Daisychain Preschool Full day care · 24 places · PO6 1PA | Good (2024) |
| 29 | Fledglings Pre-School Sessional day care · 24 places · PO4 0AG | Good (2024) |
| 30 | Cherubz Daycare Paulsgrove Full day care · 60 places · PO6 4JB | Good (2024) |
| 31 | Mulberry Court Pre School Sessional day care · 37 places · PO6 3PD | Good (2024) |
| 32 | Apple Tree Day Nursery Full day care · 45 places · PO2 9SD | Good (2024) |
| 33 | Tops Southsea Full day care · 78 places · PO4 9RL | Good (2024) |
| 34 | The Stacey Pre-School Sessional day care · 36 places · PO3 6DN | Good (2024) |
| 35 | Carousel Nursery School Full day care · 60 places · PO2 8ND | Good (2024) |
| 36 | WillowTree Nursery Portsmouth Limited Full day care · 54 places · PO4 8RL | Good (2024) |
| 37 | Little Spinnakers Pre-School Full day care · 40 places · PO4 8PH | Good (2024) |
| 38 | Honeypot Nursery Full day care · 54 places · PO6 2SA | Good (2024) |
| 39 | Highbury Nursery & Day Care Full day care · 10 places · PO6 2RZ | Good (2024) |
| 40 | Little Creators Pre School Sessional day care · 15 places · PO6 2TL | Good (2024) |
| 41 | YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery Full day care · 62 places · PO2 8ER | Good (2024) |
| 42 | Springwood Preschool Sessional day care · 44 places · PO3 5AL | Good (2024) |
| 43 | Langstone Community Nursery Sessional day care · 40 places · PO3 6EY | Good (2024) |
| 44 | St Jude's Church Nursery Full day care · 95 places · PO5 3BW | Good (2024) |
| 45 | Castle Pre-School Ltd Sessional day care · 16 places · PO6 2PP | Good (2024) |
| 46 | Busy Bees Day Nursery at Portsmouth Full day care · 126 places · PO6 4SF | Good (2023) |
| 47 | Puffin Pre-School Full day care · 14 places · PO2 9PN | Good (2023) |
| 48 | Wind In The Willows Portsmouth Ltd Full day care · 88 places · PO4 8HB | Good (2023) |
| 49 | Tops Day Nurseries - Portsmouth Full day care · 115 places · PO6 3LY | Good (2023) |
| 50 | Bramble Infant School and Nursery (Early Years Childcare) Full day care · 46 places · PO4 0DT | Good (2023) |
| 51 | Peacock Pre-School Full day care · 16 places · PO6 1EY | Good (2023) |
| 52 | Rainbow Corner Nursery School Full day care · 60 places · PO5 1PX | Good (2023) |
| 53 | Top Tots Day Nursery Hedgerow House Limited Full day care · 41 places · PO4 8DU | Good (2023) |
| 54 | Top Tots Day Nursery MLC Limited Full day care · 69 places · PO2 9QA | Good (2023) |
| 55 | Tops Day Nursery - Lakeside Full day care · 93 places · PO6 3EN | Good (2022) |
| 56 | Portchester Day Nursery Full day care · 82 places · PO16 9PP | Good (2022) |
| 57 | Little Admirals Stamshaw Sessional day care · 48 places · PO2 8LE | Good (2022) |
| 58 | Tops Copnor Full day care · 35 places · PO3 5EW | Good (2022) |
| 59 | Parade Community Preschool Full day care · 60 places · PO2 9NE | Good (2022) |
| 60 | Twinkle Cottage Day Nursery Full day care · 48 places · PO1 5AJ | Good (2022) |
| 61 | St Nicholas Preschool Sessional day care · 24 places · PO2 0NG | Good (2021) |
| 62 | Little Peoples Nursery Full day care · 60 places · PO6 2EH | Report card: 1 strong, 4 expected (Feb 2026) |
| 63 | Oliver's Rainbow Nursery Full day care · 100 places · PO17 6AR | Report card: 5 expected (Feb 2026) |
| 64 | 'Little Thinkers' at New Horizons Portsmouth Full day care · 84 places · PO2 7HX | Requires improvement (2025) |
| 65 | ASC Portsmouth Full day care · PO3 5LY | Not yet inspected |
| 66 | Binsteed Childcare Services Ltd Full day care · 39 places · PO1 5AG | Not yet inspected |
| 67 | Castle Early Years Sessional day care · 25 places · PO16 9BD | Not yet inspected |
| 68 | Cherry Tree Day Nursery (Portsmouth) Limited Full day care · 21 places · PO2 9HQ | Not yet inspected |
| 69 | Discovery Nursery School (Portsmouth) Full day care · 42 places · PO2 8HR | Not yet inspected |
| 70 | Dysart Nursery Limited Full day care · 48 places · PO6 2LY | Not yet inspected |
| 71 | Get Set Play Full day care · 30 places · PO3 5UB | Not yet inspected |
| 72 | Landport Playscheme Full day care · 17 places · PO1 1JD | Not yet inspected |
| 73 | Little Stars Pre-School Sessional day care · 40 places · PO6 1DL | Not yet inspected |
| 74 | Little Thinkers @ Meon Way Sessional day care · 52 places · PO4 8PA | Not yet inspected |
| 75 | North End Nursery Full day care · 70 places · PO2 7JH | Not yet inspected |
| 76 | Sprouts Childcare Ltd Sessional day care · 60 places · PO16 8DG | Not yet inspected |
| 77 | Stagecoach Portsmouth Sessional day care · PO5 3ES | Not yet inspected |
| 78 | Teddy Bears Nursery School Full day care · 52 places · PO6 4QD | Not yet inspected |
| 79 | The Play Corner Hillside Full day care · 34 places · PO6 3PY | Not yet inspected |
| 80 | The Play Corner Paulsgrove Sessional day care · 29 places · PO6 4DW | Not yet inspected |
| 81 | Top Tots Day Nursery Northern Parade Ltd Full day care · 60 places · PO2 9NE | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Portsmouth?
Typical weekly nursery prices for a child under two in South East, from the Coram Childcare Survey 2026. A guide only: ask each nursery for its own fees.
Working parents in England can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from when their child is 9 months old, so a 25-hour place can cost little or nothing in term time. Every 3 and 4 year old gets at least 15 funded hours. Funded hours cover 38 weeks a year; nurseries can charge for extra hours, meals and activities. Check what you can get at Childcare Choices.
Questions
What are the best nurseries in Portsmouth?
Of 81 nurseries and pre-schools in Portsmouth, 9 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Big Discoveries Nursery, Little Bears Forest Preschool, The Play Academy.
How much does nursery cost in Portsmouth?
In South East, a part-time place (25 hours a week) for a child under two typically costs £202 a week without funded hours (Coram Childcare Survey 2026). Working parents can get 30 funded hours a week in term time from 9 months.
How many nurseries are there in Portsmouth?
81 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 64 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Cosham · End · Fratton · Paulsgrove · Southsea · Alexandra Park · Milton
Neighbourhoods
Alexandra Park · Anchorage Park & Copnor · Baffins · Cosham North · Cosham South · Drayton & Farlington · Eastney · Fratton Kingston · Fratton North · Fratton West · Hilsea · Landport · Milton · North End East · North End West & Whale Island · Old Portsmouth & Southsea Common · Paulsgrove East · Paulsgrove West & Port Solent · Portchester North West · Portchester South East
Source: Ofsted early years inspections. Ofsted's report card (from November 2025) grades curriculum, achievement, behaviour, children's welfare and leadership as exceptional, strong, expected, needs attention or urgent improvement; earlier inspections gave one overall grade.