Nurseries in Portsmouth

There are 74 nurseries and pre-schools on the Ofsted register in Portsmouth, and 36 other childcare settings such as out-of-school clubs.

Inspection grades in Portsmouth

Ofsted report cards: 13 settings (24 Strong standard, 47 Expected standard, 4 Needs attention, 3 Urgent improvement)
Ofsted grades before November 2025: 53 settings (7 Outstanding, 46 Good)

Grades are shown only where the inspectorate has published the report.

Childminders and home childcarers

58 registered childminders in Portsmouth (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
12 registered home childcarers in Portsmouth (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)
1 childcare setting in a private home in Portsmouth (Ofsted childcare register, as at 30 June 2026)

Childminders look after children in their own homes. We show how many are registered, not who they are.

Nurseries and pre-schools

Apple Tree Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 9SD, ages 0 to 4, 45 places
Ofsted, 12 September 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
ASC Portsmouth - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO3 5LY
Binsteed Childcare Services Ltd - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 5AG, 39 places
Bramble Infant School and Nursery (Early Years Childcare) - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO4 0DT, ages 0 to 2, 46 places
Ofsted, 11 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Busy Bees Day Nursery at Portsmouth - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 4SF, ages 0 to 4, 126 places
Ofsted, 7 August 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Canoe Lake Nursery - Day nursery, Southsea PO4 9RF, ages 0 to 4, 56 places
Ofsted, 7 August 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Carousel Nursery School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 8ND, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 11 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Castle Pre-School Ltd - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 2PP, ages 2 to 4, 16 places
Ofsted, 3 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Cherry Tree Day Nursery (Portsmouth) Limited - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 9HQ, ages 0 to 4, 86 places
Ofsted report card, 8 May 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Cherubz Daycare Paulsgrove - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 4JB, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 8 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Discovery Nursery School (Portsmouth) - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 8HR, 42 places
Dolls House Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2JD, ages 1 to 4, 55 places
Ofsted, 18 April 2023: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Drayton Daisychain Preschool - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 1PA, ages 1 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 12 December 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Dream Catchers Play House - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2LG, ages 0 to 5, 30 places
Ofsted, 25 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Dream Catchers Play School North End - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO2 0JG, ages 2 to 4, 49 places
Ofsted, 18 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Dysart Nursery Limited - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2LY, ages 1 to 4, 42 places
Ofsted report card, 11 June 2026: Strong standard in 4 areas, Expected standard in 2 areas; safeguarding standards met
Farlington Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 1NF, ages 0 to 4, 65 places
Ofsted, 21 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Fledglings Pre-School - Pre-school, Southsea PO4 0AG, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 14 November 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Get Set Play - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO3 5UB, 30 places
Ofsted, 2 June 2017: Good overall
Happy Days Nursery and Pre-School, Portsmouth - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 4QD, ages 0 to 4, 52 places
Ofsted report card, 9 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Highbury Nursery & Day Care - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2RZ, ages 1 to 1, 10 places
Ofsted, 2 May 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Honeypot Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2SA, ages 0 to 4, 54 places
Ofsted, 3 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Landport Playscheme - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 1JD, 17 places
Langstone Community Nursery - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO3 6EY, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 24 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery - Day nursery, Southsea PO5 3DZ, ages 0 to 3, 54 places
Ofsted, 5 March 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery - Day nursery, Southsea PO5 3DZ, ages 2 to 3, 40 places
Ofsted, 3 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Leapfrog Neighbourhood Nursery - Day nursery, Southsea PO5 2NR, ages 0 to 4, 80 places
Ofsted, 1 June 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Admirals Stamshaw - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO2 8LE, ages 1 to 4, 48 places
Ofsted, 10 November 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Bears Forest Preschool - Pre-school, Southsea PO4 8NB, ages 2 to 4, 34 places
Ofsted, 18 September 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Creators Pre School - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 2TL, ages 1 to 4, 15 places
Ofsted, 26 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Lambs Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 0UF, ages 0 to 4, 46 places
Ofsted, 1 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Learners Day Care Ltd - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 5PR, ages 0 to 8, 63 places
Ofsted, 24 April 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Peoples Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 2EH, ages 1 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted report card, 20 February 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
Little Planet Nursery & Preschool - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 3PD, 17 places
Little Spinnakers Pre-School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO4 8PH, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted, 12 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Little Stars Pre-School - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 1DL, ages 2 to 4, 40 places
Ofsted report card, 18 September 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Little Sunbeams Pre School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 0RH, ages 1 to 4, 45 places
Ofsted, 19 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
'Little Thinkers' at New Horizons Portsmouth - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 7HX, ages 1 to 4, 87 places
Ofsted report card, 16 June 2026: Strong standard in 2 areas, Expected standard in 4 areas; safeguarding standards met
Little Thinkers at Penbridge - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO1 5BG, 12 places
Little Thinkers @ Meon Way - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO4 8PA, ages 2 to 5, 26 places
Ofsted report card, 14 May 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Milton Park Pre-School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO4 8ET, ages 2 to 4, 30 places
Ofsted, 22 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
North End Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 7JH, ages 2 to 3, 70 places
Ofsted report card, 4 September 2026: Expected standard in 5 areas, Needs attention in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
Oliver's Rainbow Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO17 6AR, ages 0 to 4, 100 places
Ofsted report card, 11 February 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
Peacock Pre-School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 1EY, ages 2 to 4, 16 places
Ofsted, 14 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Puffin Pre-School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 9PN, ages 2 to 4, 14 places
Ofsted, 5 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Rainbow Corner Nursery School - Day nursery, Southsea PO5 1PX, ages 0 to 4, 60 places
Ofsted, 10 March 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Roberts Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 5JJ, ages 1 to 4, 41 places
Ofsted, 12 August 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Southsea Nature Nursery - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO5 3QW, ages 2 to 4, 38 places
Ofsted, 17 January 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
Springwood Preschool - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO3 5AL, ages 0 to 4, 44 places
Ofsted, 21 February 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Stagecoach Portsmouth - Pre-school, Southsea PO5 3ES
St Jude's Church Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO5 3BW, ages 2 to 5, 95 places
Ofsted, 18 January 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
St Nicholas Preschool - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO2 0NG, ages 2 to 4, 24 places
Ofsted, 30 September 2021: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Stubbington Lodge - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 0HP, ages 1 to 4
Ofsted report card, 4 September 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
The Corner Pre-School - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO3 6DE, ages 2 to 4, 26 places
Ofsted, 15 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
The Elizabeth Foundation - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 3LL, ages 2 to 5, 16 places
Ofsted, 16 March 2022: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
The Haven - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 4HA, ages 0 to 4, 56 places
Ofsted, 22 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
The Play Academy - Day nursery, Southsea PO5 1JF, ages 0 to 4, 80 places
Ofsted, 23 January 2024: Outstanding overall; safeguarding is effective
The Play Corner Hillside - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 3PY, ages 1 to 4, 34 places
Ofsted report card, 17 June 2026: Strong standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
The Play Corner Paulsgrove - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO6 4DW, ages 1 to 3, 29 places
Ofsted report card, 28 September 2026: Strong standard in 5 areas, Expected standard in 1 area; safeguarding standards met
The Stacey Pre-School - Pre-school, Portsmouth PO3 6DN, ages 2 to 4, 36 places
Ofsted, 12 July 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Tops Copnor - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO3 5EW, ages 0 to 4, 35 places
Ofsted, 24 August 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Tops Day Nurseries - Portsmouth - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 3LY, ages 0 to 4, 115 places
Ofsted report card, 21 May 2026: Needs attention in 3 areas, Urgent improvement in 3 areas; safeguarding standards met
Tops Day Nursery - Lakeside - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 3EN, ages 0 to 8, 93 places
Ofsted, 6 December 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Tops Southsea - Day nursery, Southsea PO4 9RL, ages 0 to 4, 78 places
Ofsted, 6 August 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top Tots Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 3HN, ages 0 to 4, 53 places
Ofsted, 17 June 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top Tots Day Nursery Fort Purbrook Limited - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO6 1BJ, ages 0 to 4, 50 places
Ofsted, 26 May 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top Tots Day Nursery Hedgerow House Limited - Day nursery, Southsea PO4 8DU, ages 1 to 4, 41 places
Ofsted, 30 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top Tots Day Nursery MLC Limited - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 9QA, ages 1 to 4, 69 places
Ofsted, 6 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Top Tots Day Nursery Northern Parade Ltd - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 9NE, 60 places
Twinkle Cottage Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO1 5AJ, ages 0 to 4, 48 places
Ofsted, 7 March 2022: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Twinkle Star Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 0AD, ages 0 to 4, 46 places
Ofsted, 19 May 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
WillowTree Nursery Portsmouth Limited - Day nursery, Southsea PO4 8RL, ages 0 to 4, 54 places
Ofsted, 26 June 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Wind In The Willows Portsmouth Ltd - Day nursery, Southsea PO4 8HB, ages 0 to 4, 88 places
Ofsted, 19 June 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
YMCA Little Whale Day Nursery - Day nursery, Portsmouth PO2 8ER, ages 0 to 4, 62 places
Ofsted, 19 March 2024: Good overall; safeguarding is effective

Out-of-school clubs and other childcare

Active8 Minds Highbury Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 2RZ, 60 places
Active8 Minds Mayfield School Wraparound Care - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO2 0RH, 50 places
Active8 Minds Meon Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO4 8NT, 50 places
ActiveMe 360 CIC @ Moorings Way Infant School - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO4 8YJ, 40 places
ActiveMe 360 CIC @ Penbridge Infant & Nursery School - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 5BG, 40 places
ActiveMe 360 CIC @ The Portsmouth Academy - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 5PF, 40 places
Cm Sports After School Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 2PP
CM Sports After School Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 1HJ
CM Sports After School Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 2PP
CM Sports After School Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 1DH
CM Sports at St Paul's Catholic Primary School - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 4JD
CM Sports Flying Bull Holiday Camp - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO2 7BJ
CM Sports Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO2 0RH
CM Sports Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 1FG
CM Sports - St Johns Wrap Around & Holiday Camp - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 1PX, 20 places
CM Sports Wrap Around & Holiday Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 4PN, 20 places
Craneswater Out Of School Scheme - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO4 0PX
CSS Activities - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO5 3EQ, 64 places
Dream Catchers After School Club Court Lane - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 2PP, 40 places
Farlington Wrap Around Court Lane - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 2PP, 70 places
Farlington Wrap Around Portsdown Primary - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 3JL, 50 places
Farlington Wrap Around Solent Infant - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 1DH, 65 places
Farlington Wraparound Solent Junior - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 1HJ, 70 places
I Love to Learn Portsmouth - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO5 1DS
King George Holiday Camp, CM Sports - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 3FZ
Kings Camps - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 2HB
Langstone Out of School Club - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO3 6HL, 35 places
Little Prems Stamshaw Juniors - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO2 8QH
Little Prems St Pauls - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO6 4JD, 30 places
Little Prems Westover - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO3 6NS, 35 places
Manor Infants Holidays - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 5QR, 30 places
Manor out of school scheme - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 5QR, 12 places
PH Camps - New Horizons Primary School - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO2 7JB, 25 places
Player Ready Portsmouth - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO1 5AG
School Friend Clubs @ Wimborne - Out-of-school club, Southsea PO4 8DE, 30 places
Stacey Centre Playscheme - Out-of-school club, Portsmouth PO3 6DN, 30 places

Nursery groups with settings here

Tops Day Nursery Limited (4 here)
Leapfrog Nursery School Limited (3 here)
Little Thinkers Pre-School & Nursery (3 here)
Naval Under Fives (Eastern Area) Committee (2 here)
Busy Bees Nurseries Limited (1 here)
Good Manors Day Nurseries Limited (1 here)
Salvation Army Trustee Company (The) (1 here)
YMCA Fairthorne Group (1 here)

Ofsted report cards (England, from November 2025)

Since 10 November 2025 Ofsted has graded nurseries and pre-schools on a report card. There is no single overall grade. Instead, each of six areas gets one of five grades: Exceptional, Strong standard, Expected standard, Needs attention, Urgent improvement.

The six areas are inclusion; curriculum and teaching; achievement; behaviour, attitudes and establishing routines; children's welfare and wellbeing; leadership and governance. Safeguarding is judged on its own, as met or not met.

Expected standard means the setting does what Ofsted expects of every setting. Strong standard and Exceptional are above that; Needs attention and Urgent improvement mean Ofsted found things the setting has to put right.

Source: Ofsted reports

Ofsted grades before November 2025 (England)

Inspections before November 2025 gave one overall grade on a four-point scale: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement, Inadequate. Ofsted also graded the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management, and said whether safeguarding was effective.

Settings keep their last grade until Ofsted visits again, so many nurseries still show a grade from this older scale.

Source: Ofsted reports

Funded childcare hours in England

All 3 and 4 year olds in England can get 15 hours of free childcare a week, for 38 weeks of the year.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 4 years old can get 30 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year (Free Childcare for Working Parents), if they meet the earnings rules. You confirm your details every 3 months.

Some 2 year olds can get 15 hours a week when the family gets certain kinds of extra support.

The hours are used at a registered provider that offers them, so ask each nursery how it offers the funded hours.

Source: GOV.UK: Free Childcare for Working Parents, check if you're eligible · GOV.UK: Free childcare and education for 2 to 4 year olds (checked 31 October 2026)

Towns in Portsmouth

Nurseries in Southsea (13)

Schools in Portsmouth

Schools in Portsmouth
Schools in Portsmouth council area
Ark Ayrton Primary Academy - Primary
Ark Dickens Primary Academy - Primary
Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery - Primary
Beacon View Primary Academy - Primary
Bramble Infant School and Nursery - Primary
Copnor Primary School - Primary
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School - Primary
Cottage Grove Primary School and Nursery - Primary
Court Lane Infant Academy - Primary
Court Lane Junior Academy - Primary
Craneswater Junior School - Primary
Cumberland Infant School - Primary

Sources: Ofsted, registers as at 30 June 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.