Best nurseries in Shirley
10 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools in Southampton, 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 | Busy Bee Preschool Sessional day care · 120 places · SO15 3ND | Outstanding (2023) |
| 2 | Hopscotch Day Nurseries (Regents Park) Ltd Full day care · 80 places · SO15 8NY | Good (2025) |
| 3 | St James Nursery and Pre-School Full day care · 40 places · SO16 6UG | Good (2025) |
| 4 | Taplins Day Nursery SGH Full day care · 63 places · SO16 6YD | Good (2024) |
| 5 | The Co-operative Childcare Southampton Full day care · 100 places · SO16 6AY | Good (2023) |
| 6 | Barn Owls Pre School Full day care · 40 places · SO15 7QE | Good (2023) |
| 7 | Shirley Preschool Sessional day care · 40 places · SO15 5HE | Good (2023) |
| 8 | Little Caterpillars Preschool Sessional day care · 34 places · SO16 6AB | Report card: 5 expected (Jan 2026) |
| 9 | Foundry Lane Preschool Sessional day care · 30 places · SO15 3JT | Report card: 2 expected, 3 needs attention (Nov 2025) |
| 10 | Tiny Toes (Warren Avenue) Full day care · 120 places · SO16 6AG | Not yet inspected |
How much does nursery cost in Shirley?
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 Shirley?
Of 10 nurseries and pre-schools in Shirley, 1 have Ofsted's top results (Outstanding, or mostly strong or exceptional on the new report card). Listed first: Busy Bee Preschool, Hopscotch Day Nurseries (Regents Park) Ltd, St James Nursery and Pre-School.
How much does nursery cost in Shirley?
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 Shirley?
10 Ofsted-registered nurseries and pre-schools, 9 of them inspected so far.
Nurseries nearby
Southampton · Bitterne · Sholing · Woolston
Neighbourhoods
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.