West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester)

Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5HT
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9.9 119 Reviews
  • West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester), Winchester
A purpose built day nursery, specified by Childbase to the highest quality standard. Friendly and well-established, West Downs provides a happy, sociable environment where every child is treated as an individual.

The nursery has four main bright and colourful playrooms for individual age groups with additional sleeping areas. Outside is a secure, fully enclosed garden with a well-equipped soft tarmac playground and a lawned area which includes a digging and planting area and a sensory path for exploration.

The nursery also organises regular outings as a means of extending the children's vocabulary and understanding.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Ren Norman-Greer (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 26

Total Places for Children

  • 68

Age Range

  • from 0 years 2 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:30
    Tuesday 07:30-18:30
    Wednesday 07:30-18:30
    Thursday 07:30-18:30
    Friday 07:30-18:30

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Inset Days

Parking

  • Drop off bay directly outside of the nursery.

West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) Reviews (119)

9.9

West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.896) out of 10, based on 20 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) has 119 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Total of 119, showing 41-60
Review from Rebecca S-H (Mother of Child) published on 25 May 2022 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I was really nervous as a first time mum leaving my baby (who was only four months at the time) with a nursery, but everyone in Caterpillars has been amazing for both my child and me - huge shout out to the staff who reassured me on my first anxious settling in visit and for supporting and encouraging
my child's development. I am never anxious dropping my child off ever - she adores nursery, has made lots of friends, clearly has a wonderful time and crucially, she is happy. I would absolutely recommend West Downs Day Nursery to any parent wanting a fun, engaging, safe and caring environment for both their child and them.
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Review from Helen M (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son started at West Downs when he was two and we’d just moved down from London. He’s now 4 and off to school in September. We have absolutely loved our experience with the nursery. From day 1 we were fully supported with transition and settling my son into the nursery. The team are brilliant, truly
caring about the welfare and development of the children. The children are happy, well looked after and you get every opportunity to hear about how they are doing.


My son is also obsessed with the food. The nursery cook is his hero. He was quite a fussy eater and now eats most things.


Finally, the leadership team have been excellent and this was really highlighted in the pandemic. They put the children and staff’s safety as a priority and did everything they could to ensure a clean and safe place.


I would strongly recommend this nursery. They’ve made our little boy very happy and confident as he sets off to school. He’s made lots of friends and has loved his time.

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Review from Emma M (Mother of Child) published on 3 September 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
West Downs is a fantastic nursery. The staff are always friendly and seem to genuinely care about the children they are looking after. The communication is great and the staff ensure that they keep parents informed about key parts of their child's day.
My daughter has just left after attending for
almost 4 years and I have never had any issues with the care she has received. There is a lovely outdoor space that is well used by the children and the rooms are appropriately equipped for each age group.
I have been particularly impressed with the way in which the nursery and staff have responded to Covid. As a key worker my child continued to attend during the closures and at no point did I need to worry about the safety and care she received. Everything has been communicated clearly to parents and any changes have been implemented without making my daughter feel at all unsettled. Overall a great nursery which I would be happy to recommend for anyone looking for great childcare!
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Review from Rebecca D (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son started at West Downs in March 2021. Having been just 5 weeks old when we locked down in 2020, my son has not been to any baby groups or even socialised beyond his parents, so we were a bit apprehensive about the nursery. We couldn't visit the site due to COVID restrictions, however, the manager
was brilliant, gave me so much time on the phone and email - answering questions and describing the setting. He also sent videos of the baby room and other information such as the menus. The nursery were amazing with settling in sessions and arranged four gradual sessions to ease both my son and I, into the nursery. We had to drop our son at the door but the staff at West Downs couldn't be more reassuring. He very quickly settled into the baby room. He clearly loves his time at nursery, he is bonding brilliantly with the staff and we are so very impressed with the communication, professionalism, updates and most importantly, care from his keyworkers and the rest of the team. Thank you.
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Review from Jen F (Mother of Child) published on 5 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We continue to be so pleased with West Downs nursery. Staff are friendly and professional, and daily tasks are varied and engaging. My little boy thoroughly enjoys attending and always talks about his day the whole way home. Since our last review, the feedback has been taken on board about varying assessment
tasks, which has been so lovely to see. I still think that assessments themselves are sometimes graded peculiarly, (eg saying your child is commencing a skill that they have been secure in for 4+ months). However, I appreciate the subjectivity and the fact staff have a small amount of time to complete assessments and probably do it purely in the time set aside rather than as they go through the day and see it, therefore, maybe giving different results? This would be my only criticism. I am really happy with the Covid procedures and have no doubt that my son is safe and nurtured. The food is superb, and they take all parental preferences on board and stick to them. Management is exceptional.
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Review from David E (Father of Child) published on 2 February 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been at West Downs since she was 9 months old and has moved up through all the rooms with excellent support from her keyworkers and other team members. She is now in pre-school. She has grown so much in confidence and is excelling/thriving so well all due to the support from her fantastic
practitioners that I can't praise highly enough,
especially during the tough times we are all facing currently. The facilities, learning and outdoor space are excellent. The Management team are always there to support with any queries or issues raised. I would recommend this nursery to anyone.
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Review from Rebecca D (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son loves his nursery. He gets glowing reviews from the staff, and always seems to be happy and sociable. We get good communication from the staff, and they comment on how our son is always smiling.
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Review from Sarah L (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We would highly recommend West Downs nursery. Our son started when he was 9-months-old, and after a few weeks settling in, it is clear that he loves going and enjoys interacting with the staff and other children. We are so grateful to the staff who make such an effort to look after him and provide such
a wide range of activities, which have clearly benefitted his development.
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Review from James H (Father of Child) published on 26 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Overall, we are pleased with how our son is catered for. He comes home very happy, and indeed, the syllabus provided is helping with his cognitive development and social interaction skills. We are happy to of chosen West Downs as his nursery.
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Review from Elizabeth W (Mother of Child) published on 26 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We are very happy with the care our daughter receives at West Downs. She settled in quickly when she started, and then return to the nursery after the 'Covid break' in the middle of 2020 seemed to be handled very well. She is always happy to go in the mornings and keen to tell us what she has been up
to (and what she's eaten!) when she gets home. The staff are all very friendly, and our daughter likes to talk about them at home. The staff/office always respond quickly to queries/requests for additional sessions.
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Review from Tessa M (Mother of Child) published on 22 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Fantastic nursery with lovely, dedicated staff who are always happy to help. Our little boy took time to settle after being home for so long due to covid, and all staff were so kind and committed to getting him happy. He now loves it! Highly recommend.
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Review from Monika W (Mother of Child) published on 21 January 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son has been at West Downs 3 days a week from 11 months old. He loves the staff, food, activities and we notice positive changes in him when he comes back home in the evening, such as good habits or reaching new milestones in his development. We always feel reassured that he is in safe hands and
enjoying his time there.
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Review from Sarah H (Mother of Child) published on 6 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I would highly recommend West Downs as a day nursery. My son has been going since he was 1 and he adores the time he spends there. The staff are always friendly, communicate well about how his day has been. If I have ever left him poorly or upset they always communicate very well to keep me updated
and the management have always been helpful to sort out any queries.
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Review from R S (Mother of Child) published on 15 September 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My twins have attended West Downs over the past twelve months and have recently left as they are starting school. We were very lucky to find availability at West Downs at short notice on moving to the area. The nursery is exceptionally well run. It is clear that the management take the day to day running
of the place seriously and that staff are given guidance which is adhered to. Parent messages are responded to efficiently and communications from the nursery are regular (this has been extremely helpful given the current COVID situation). Despite the professionalism, this doesn't mean the nursery is a formal place and the staff have been incredibly caring towards our children and have also done an excellent job of getting them ready for school despite the disruptions they have had this year. The protocols in place to deal with COVID are thorough and we felt confident about our children re-starting when the nursery re-opened. I'd have no hesitation in recommending West Downs.
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Review from Helen R (Mother of Child) published on 3 August 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My two children have been very happy since returning to nursery after a period at home during lockdown. The nursery staff have done an amazing job at managing any concerns that the children have, talking about germs and the virus in an understandable non-frightening way. They have maintained their enthusiasm
for playing and learning throughout what must have been a difficult and uncertain time. The management staff have kept us fully informed of what has been happening and any changes with ever-changing guidance coming out. I am happy that everything is being done to keep my children as safe as possible.
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Review from Jo G (Mother of Child) published on 28 July 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
West Downs Day Nursery is absolutely wonderful. All 3 of my sons have attended.
They are the loveliest bunch of people you could hope to meet. They are kind, energetic, compassionate, motivated and organised and very professional and conscientious. The nursery itself has a lovely layout and has recently
been re-decorated throughout and had new bathrooms installed. Their outside space is generous and imaginative, I particularly like the ‘forest’ area.
They are very environmentally aware and, in common with the rest of the University site, they run on a green energy tariff. They also have a number of recycling streams so almost all of their waste is recycled.
The food is amazing and varied, the children love the chef.
They are very organised on billing, room moves, correspondence etc. which makes my life easier (I found this to be lacking at other nurseries we have used prior).
They have managed COVID-19 extremely well.
I genuinely cannot fault them! Thank you.
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Review from Ben D (Father of Child) published on 22 July 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This nursery has done an absolutely brilliant job with looking after both of our girls since they were 5-months-old. The support they have provided with school readiness for my eldest has been second to none, really getting her ready. Each room has a wonderful team of such caring and compassionate individuals,
who really know our children and ensure they are so happy and settled throughout their day.
They have excelled at so many activities through the patience and imagination of such a wonderful and dedicated team. The girls would constantly relay the exciting activities they got up to throughout the day (activities I would never be able to spend time in doing at home), and felt so lucky that we chose such a wonderful nursery environment.
The food is to the highest quality, with exceptional snacks and home-cooked food.
I really would recommend this nursery to everyone.
The team, the rooms, the garden and food is absolutely wonderful.
A fantastic place for your child to be.
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Review from Deirdre B (Mother of Child) published on 22 July 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My oldest, now 2.5 years has attended West Downs since he was 9-months old and my second recently started. West Downs is an excellent nursery. The staff clearly love and care for my children, and there is always a very happy and friendly vibe at drop off and pick up. The staff always have time to give
me feedback on how the day went, and we have worked together to overcome behavioural issues. As a business owner, I have always appreciated the nurseries long opening hours and the flexibility to drop off early or late depending on how busy the week is. The swop days are also helpful.
Throughout the pandemic, we have continued to be impressed by the leadership and communication from the management team, during a difficult time. They continue to put the safety and well being first of the children and balance the needs of staff and parents, treating parents and staff very fairly.
I would highly recommend West Downs to friends and family.
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Review from D P (Mother of Child) published on 18 June 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
West Downs has cared for all our children and now we have just one remaining in the nursery setting. We have been incredibly lucky to have been able to use West Downs for the kids. The kids were always happy, comfortable, excited and so well looked after. The older two still maintain friendships from
their nursery days. The staff do all they can to ensure they give the best care to the children and we see this shine through the kids’ enthusiasm and happiness at drop off and pick up. We highly recommend this nursery setting - for parents, it is absolute peace of mind.
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Review from Heather B (Mother of Child) published on 12 June 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending West Downs Day Nursery since February 2019 and the care he receives on a daily basis is exemplary. The staff are all lovely, and always happy to answer questions and provide feedback about his activities and development. He is extremely happy in their care. I am always impressed
with the different activities on offer and the way his interests are taken into account. He is a very outdoorsy boy and gets to spend lots of time in the garden.
I have also been extremely reassured by their approach to the return to nursery following the lockdown. Communication was clear from the outset, and the processes and procedures that have been put in place are appropriate, whilst still ensuring the children are able to enjoy themselves and continue in their learning and development. I had no doubts about sending my son back and remain very happy with the care he receives. I cannot recommend this nursery enough!
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.896)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.896) out of 10 for West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 20 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 20 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.896 for West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) is calculated as follows: ( (215 Excellents x 5) + (25 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 240 Ratings = 4.896
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) is based on 20 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 68 number of registered child places is 13.6, which has been reached with 20 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (18)

Meet the Team (1)

Ren

Ren Norman-Greer

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2016

Ren is the Manager of West Downs Day Nursery in Winchester and has a wealth of experience, having worked in Early Years since 2012, starting as an apprentice and progressing through to Nursery Manager. Ren holds a Level 3 qualification in Early Years, a Level 3 in SEND, and is also a Mental Health First Aider.


What is your favourite feature of your nursery?
My favourite feature of the nursery is our wooded area. It lends itself to endless amounts of imaginative play and creativity.


What are you most proud of about your team?
I am most proud of my team because they are the most kind and supportive people that always go above and beyond for anyone who needs it.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. West Downs Day Nursery (Winchester) has an Enhanced Service - more info.