West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester)

My 2 year old has been attending West Downs Day Nursery since he was 7 months old and he is extremely happy there. The current team in Ladybirds room are brilliant - he has gone from being very reluctant for me to leave him in the morning just a few months ago, to not even wanting to leave at home time. It is obvious the staff take a real interest in each child as an individual. Recently, he has started doing RugbyTots, which the staff recognised was something that he would personally find extremely enjoyable.
Concerns are always listened to by the management team when they are brought to their attention.
In the interests of providing a balanced review, there are a couple of minor shortfalls relating to food choice (my son is not particularly fussy, I would say this may not be the case for all - some of the options are quite 'interesting'!), and also the learning journey app where often observations are not published/approved for a long time and there are often not regular updates on there.

I cannot speak highly enough of West Downs Day Nursery. From the very 1st meeting when looking for our chosen nursery for our son, the staff were welcoming and extremely professional.
Their warmth along with the impeccable appearance of the nursery made my husband and I instantly feel like this was the nursery for our child. They have gone on to prove that this was the right decision. They have a keen interest in our son's development and make conscious efforts to report this back to us.
Our son has been attending just one day a week for 8 months now and it is clear that he thoroughly enjoys himself and feels very comfortable being there with the staff and the other children.
We are very happy that we chose West Downs - and hope to increase his days at some point.

West Downs Nursery provides a fantastic learning environment for my children who both now attend. My eldest, who is now three, has been going since she was six months old - and absolutely loves it!
All room teams are brilliant and have such fantastic relationships with both the children and parents. My 5-month-old has just started - and I have really been put at ease with her settling in - all thanks to the staff who provide a calm environment and strong settling in period.

The meals and activities are second to none - my 3-year-old loves coming home and telling me about her day. I highly recommend West Downs Nursery to anybody thinking of sending your little ones there - they will love it (and you will have such peace of mind knowing they are so well cared for)

My daughter has attended West Downs Day Nursery since the age of one, three days a week. Currently in the bubble bees room and extremely happy and looks forward to going into nursery. The staff members in the room have been brilliant and supported us through potty training. Each evening on collection they will update you on your child's day, explaining what they have been doing, eaten - how much etc. I couldn't ask for anymore. Every week we receive a memo via email and has all relevant information on there. Overall the staff and management team are amazing they are approachable, listen to views and give feedback. My child is happy so of course, I'm even happier as never used a nursery before. Thank you to all the team at West Downs :)

West Downs Day Nursery is a fantastic nursery. The whole team are kind, caring and attentive to the children in their care. They go above and beyond to provide the children with a stimulating learning environment and provide engaging activities from the moment the children arrive at the time they are collected. They prepare the children well for transitions from room to room and from pre-school to school.
My son has attended West Downs since he was 7 months and he absolutely loves it! I feel confident to leave him in their care, knowing he will be safe, and this has supported me to continue with my career.
I would highly recommend West Downs Day nursery without reservation.

My daughter is attending the Butterflies room and she only recently turned 3. All the girls have been very helpful in making the transition to this room as smooth as possible. My daughter was not speaking any English when she started to attend the nursery and I am impressed on how in only 4 months she can now speak and understand English as well as Italian and German (languages that we regularly speak at home).
They are preparing delicious food for the kids with a 4 weekly rotation in the menu.
I find the girls very nice and supportive. Each of them is showing genuine affection to my daughter and is very dedicated to helping her in developing her skills/personality.
The nurse gives you the possibility of swapping 3 sessions in a year without any charge, but only recently we found that out.
Also, they are using the Parentzone app where they are posting few photos and assessment of the child.

West Downs is a really lovely nursery and my daughter loves going there - she has so much fun. It's also made her more independent and she's made a lot of friends. The excellent staff do lots of activities and post up assessments and pictures for parents to see during their day. The hours are also great for me when I'm travelling long distances with work, and the fact you can book half days and days often at late notice is also really convenient. A great nursery!

I love the nursery my son is always happy to go in and sad to leave.. he loves all the ladies and men that he sees and they all make him feel welcome. They are a very friendly bunch and are like an extended family to us.

We have used West Downs for two years for our son and nearly one year for our daughter. We are very impressed with this nursery and the care they have given both children. The staff are attentive, caring and kind who show genuine love and interest in our children and their development. In both the Butterflies (pre-school) room and Caterpillar (babies) room there have been the same staff for many years and the consistency this gives to the children is wonderful. It also shows how much they enjoy working with the children and the Childbase company. We are kept up to date on the children's activities and progress promptly and any suggestions or queries we have are dealt with quickly and competently. Any issues we have had, no matter how small, are dealt with sensitively and seriously. The management team are equally as excellent and their door is always open. It is a happy and caring environment and the food, facilities and service we get we are delighted with.

I cannot speak more positively about this nursery. My daughter has been attending the nursery for a couple of months and it's been lovely to see how happy she is when I collect her that I know she is well looked after and learning each day. My daughter has come on incredibly well since starting and we are very pleased to see her developing her skills, language and creativity through the many activities. The staff are vey approachable, friendly and enthusiastic about what they do. They are always happy to help and inform you of your child's progress.

I believe the fantastic manager and team of staff make this nursery so special.

Just wanted to say how impressed myself and my Mum are with the staff of West Downs Day Nursery.
We were waiting in the foyer to be picked up, and a man called the buzzer. A member of staff obviously didn’t recognise him, came to the door and let him in but asked for ID and checked with the room before letting him get his Daughter (it was just a case of he hadn’t picked her up before).
Whilst it’s within the nursery policies to safeguard children, and what we all expect of a nursery, it was actually really reassuring to see it in action.
Although I already feel content and happy leaving my Children at West Downs, this has proved even more so what a fantastic nursery I chose for my children.

The nursery is always wonderful looking after my daughter. They've helped her to develop her confidence and encouraged her speech which has been a bit delayed. We've always had a positive experience with them in terms of communication of issues and concerns, and they've been great at supporting her ongoing medical needs.
The range of activities they offer for her to do, both outside in the garden and in her room are really good, and it gives us confidence that she's getting to experience a variety of things that we'd find difficult to do at home. It's always lovely to walk in and have the staff greet her by name, which makes us feel really special. Would highly recommend.

The nursery is fantastic, my son has learnt so much since being at the nursery. His speech has come on fantastically and is a very happy boy at nursery. The staff are lovely and he is always looked after.

This Nursery goes above and beyond my expectations, every day when I drop off or collect my child the staff are kind, friendly and show a great deal of care and affection towards my son. The changes in his development from having been at this nursery are profound, and his social skills are thoroughly improved by being surrounded by other happy children and staff.
The facilities are superb, with so many indoor and outdoor activities, a lot of one-to-one attention as well as smaller group tasks. The catering staff prepare wonderful foods and have just as great a connection with the children, as the nursery practitioners.

I have nothing bad to say about this nursery, its staff, space or their facilities.
I will miss West Downs Day Nursery and hope to be back again soon so that my son can continue his developmental journey here, with such wonderful staff and children alike.

Thank you for the wonderful care and support!

I have two children who attend West Downs nursery. My one-year-old is very happy with the staff in his room and they show him plenty of affection and care. A range of interesting activities are on offer each day and there appears to be a good balance of indoor/outdoor time. My pre-schooler has formed close bonds with her key worker and a few other staff members (although these members do rotate among the rooms so she does not see them every day). What I have welcomed most about the setting, is the staff openness to queries and suggestions. If there is anything I am unfamiliar with or concerned about, the staff open door policy means that I get to address these right away. The staff have always responded quickly and with effect. They are genuinely concerned with the children's well-being - and importantly - their happiness. For me, this is much more important than assessing whether my children meet the EYFS learning goals. We look forward to continuing this journey with West Downs.

My son attended from 12 months to his recent graduation. I have been extremely happy with the care both he and his younger sister have received. Staff work very hard to ensure children have a happy nursery experience. Neither child wants to come home, and they always say what fun they've had.

Although only part time, developments I have seen in both children in their learning and self-care have been so pleasing. Staff put much thought and time into planning activities and themed areas. They are always ready to talk about the children's learning and are interested in their lives.

The equipment and range of toys are excellent. I love the outdoor space, which has recently been expanded to incorporate a small woodland area.

The facility itself is light, bright, clean. Rooms are laid out and decorated well. The kitchen team do a great job. Managerial staff are approachable and always ready to talk. The nursery puts on many events during the year. I would recommend it to any parent.

We are so happy and impressed with all of the staff at West Downs, our daughter has settled in beautifully and we feel safe knowing how well cared for she is during her days here.
Her dietary requirements are well managed and we are never made to feel an issue and she comes home happy and content each day.

We have our 3rd daughter currently at West Downs Day Nursery. As with the older two, we have been extremely pleased with how she has been cared for, developed and nurtured. She is very happy and has excellent relationships with her key workers and all the staff in 'bumblebees'. Communication between us and staff is always clear and concise. Our daughter enjoys all the activities and loves the food! I would highly recommend the nursery to other families.

Our overall experience has been great. The staff are amazing and very caring. The kids have learnt so much to prepare them for school life. The cameras being present allows safety and security. Admin and Accounts are great, and Management is excellent with the handling of things. I have always been satisfied knowing that my children are in a safe environment and looked after well. They are fed and cleaned and enjoy their time here.

Thank you for such a great nursery.

The care that the staff have given my two boys, couldn't be any more amazing. They go above and beyond to provide the best are they can. The nursery is always calm and friendly.
The activities are always fun and interesting and the staff interactions are always on point.
Couldn't ask for better staff to look after my boys.

West Downs was my daughter's first experience of nursery childcare and was initially happy in the baby room. Progression through the rooms only happened when a space became available and led to our daughter remaining in a room unhappy, and not stimulated. During our time here, the manager changed and we had 3 changes of key person. Some days we did not recognise a single person in our daughter's room and often the person welcoming her did not know her name. Observations which we regularly received in the baby room were nowhere to be seen and our daughter became increasingly unhappy about attending. Clearly overwhelmed by a chaotic and cramped environment where she was not stimulated and never came home with items she had made. I write this now because my daughter has had a year at a nursery where the staff remain consistent, they know us as a family. My daughter skips in each day and leaves every day happy and items to show us. In an exit meeting, the manager listened but only offered us a reduced rate!

My son has been at West Downs Day Nursery since he was one, he has really enjoyed nursery and the staff are lovely and he has made loads of friends. The facilities are great and the garden is fantastic. The food is always good too. My youngest will be joining the baby room soon.

Both my children have settled really well and have built great bonds with the nursery team. All members of staff are very friendly and give good feedback on pick up.

Our son is incredibly happy at West Downs and I have no hesitation in recommending this nursery. He has benefitted immensely from the care and attention of staff and we look forward to him continuing his journey within the nurturing environment that West Downs provides.

A really wonderful nursery. All the staff are so friendly and knowledgeable - it sometimes feels like they only looked after my little boy, they seem to know him so well. My son is very happy. He's always busy with an activity and there is a huge variety of things to do with a fun, safe, outdoor area and lots of exciting seasonal fairs and special days. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ease back into my son going into childcare couldn't have been any better. I can not thank the management, deputy manager and business administrator for how understanding they have been and how simple a smiley face can be in this big transition for us as parents.
The girls who have cared for my son in The Butterfly Room are amazing. They all seem extremely knowledgeable and aware. My son is always talking about them at home! Most of all they are thoroughly caring and I feel more than happy leaving my son in their care.
Big thank you to his keyworker who is an amazing practitioner and a delight. The parent partnership is very important; his key worker has taken a lot of time to develop a strong relationship with me in this short time; I can not thank her enough.

My daughter attended West Downs for 4 years and has just started school. She is happy, confident and has really taken school in her stride. The team at West Downs played a huge part in her developing this confidence, especially the pre-school team over the last 8 months. The staff are friendly and approachable and my daughter talks fondly of them.

I could not fault the West Downs team, the care and attention they give my daughter is outstanding! They always go out of their way to say hello and make me feel welcome. Since my daughter has started nursery she has made a huge improvement with her development and I am so grateful.

When my daughter started nursery I was so worried but the staff were incredible and so supportive I was able to stay and play with my daughter to help settle her in. The staff would also phone to let me know how she was getting on. My daughter loves going to nursery and has learnt so much. Every time I collect her she is always engaged in something new. West Downs is such a happy environment I'm always made to feel welcome. The care, love and attention the staff give my daughter is outstanding and I can't thank them enough.

Our son is so happy at West Downs - even though he currently only attends one day a week at the moment we are treated just like we would if he was full time- all the staff at the nursery know him and his name and he is always treated as as individual what's lovely is that if there is a big event like a party or visit is that he is invited to join even if it's not on his day. He always has the best time- all the staff are so lovely and kind and the nursery environment is amazing, especially the outdoor space. As a parent I am always assured that my son is in the best possible care and you couldn't ask for more.

My daughter attended this pre-school from September 2015-March 2016 while I was completing my first year at university.
In the 6-7 months she was there, she had 3 different key persons. There were always different staff in the room, staff leaving and new staff joining. I was never introduced to new staff who were caring for my child through the day.
In the first term, Sept-Dec, I was charged just under £2000 which was a massive mistake by them, as they had not included any deductions. This was brought up only because I had contacted the council to find out what I was entitled to, and they soon realised I had been overcharged. The money was not reimbursed, but carried over to the following term so I was charged a lot less.
On my daughter's last day, they presented me with a file of her progress, which had no more than 10 pieces of paper; 3 were observations scribbled down from that afternoon. I never had any work given to me that my daughter had made at all from the whole term.

I am so grateful that I go a spot for my two and a half year old. The management is so understanding and friendly, the staff are well aware of the child's needs and are very friendly. It took no time for my kid to adjust here, which gave me the peace of mind I so needed after moving countries. Perfect location, great activities for kids to be engaged at and reasonably priced.

We have always been very happy with West Downs. Our daughter has received excellent care since she started at 10 months old. The staff genuinely care about the children and form strong relationships.

My son has attended West Downs since he was 6 months old. He goes 2 mornings and one whole day each week. He settled in within a few sessions and the relationship between all staff and parents is excellent and always has been in my experience. The outdoor area is great for all ages along with the rooms, and played a big part in us choosing this nursery. My son loves it there and his learning, speech and social skills are great. The 'Golden Values' are a fab idea. He is happy, which makes me happy!! I would recommend it for anyone looking for a centrally located nursery in Winchester.