Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery

16 Bruce Road, Southsea PO4 9RL
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8.1 19 Reviews
  • Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery, Southsea
The Southsea, Portsmouth nursery warmly welcomes children aged three months to school age, and extends its offerings with a Hi 5’s after-school and holiday club service, catering to kids up to eight years old.

Conveniently situated on Bruce Road, it's just a leisurely stroll away from Southsea's charming seafront.

As a proud member of a group dedicated to eco-sustainable childcare, the nursery prioritises the principles of reducing, reusing and recycling. Their commitment to flexibility allows parents to book in 15-minute increments, tailoring childcare to their exact needs.

With a rich array of extracurricular activities including Tops Cooking School, Tops Forest School, meditation, yoga and more, the nursery fosters holistic development.

Open communication is paramount, and they share crucial child data through EYLOG.

The carefully curated no-added sugar menu ensures that children embark on their journey with a wholesome and nutritious foundation for life.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Rachel Harmer (Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 10

Total Places for Children

  • 60

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 4 years 11 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

Parking

  • Street parking

Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery Reviews (19)

8.1

Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery has a Review Score of 8.1 (8.083) out of 10, based on 1 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery has 19 reviews.

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Review from S J (Mother of Child) published on 18 April 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My little boy loves going to nursery. He has been there for nearly 3 years and they have been supportive and caring each stage of development. Offering useful hints and tips when asked, or putting my mind at rest when worried(currently fussy eating). I love the food menu offered and how it caters for
dietary needs. Communication is great and really love getting photos to see what he's up to. Including updates on all the activities they have been up to each week.
Reply from Funke Olotu, Marketing at Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery
Thank you for sharing your lovely feedback! We're so pleased to hear how much your little boy enjoys coming to nursery and that you've felt supported through each stage of his development. It's great…read more
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Review from S W (Mother of Child) published on 25 March 2023 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really welcoming and accommodating nursery who listens and implements everything I ask of them for my child. I feel very happy and confident to leave my child in their care and her enjoyment of going there speaks volumes. Really like the sustainability priorities of the nursery and love the photos we
get sent of the activities they do. A bigger outside space would be great but this isn’t a big concern. Would definitely recommend it to others.
Reply from Lauren Ballard, Marketing Assistant at Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery
Thank you for your positive review, we really appreciate it!
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 8 June 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are very loving and caring. The outside space is nice and wide. Nice activities such as play dough making and painting. Wish the dinner was more substantial. Overall, amazing place to leave my kid, I feel safe and don’t worry about her during the day.
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Review from K F (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Very welcoming and experienced staff. My son has had a fantastic first week and the team helped him transition wonderfully. I was particularly impressed with the nursery's sustainability policies.
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Review from Anisa T (Mother of Child) published on 7 June 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Tops Southsea for over 1 month. The staff are fantastic. Very attentive and keep the children busy. My child attends 3 days a week and every time he goes, he looks happy and expresses his feelings by hand gestures, explaining what he has done or outings they have had. Highly recommended.
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Review from Sinéad S (Mother of Child) published on 6 June 2022 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been attending the nursery since he turned 1 and in those short few months, he has settled in really well. He now runs in the door in the morning and always has a big smile for whoever answers the door. The team are lovely and always updates me on how he is doing. I also appreciate that I've
rarely had to come and collect him unexpectedly meaning that my work isn't affected when he has a slight cold or fever. The girls take a practical approach to whether he would benefit more from the distraction of nursery or if he is too ill to stay for the safety and health of other children. The food they supply is excellent and they utilise as much outdoor space as they can despite being in the centre of the city. All in all, I highly recommend Tops Day Nursery, Southsea.
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Review from Sam H (Father of Child) published on 12 April 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has been attending this nursery since she was nine months old. The nursery has always been very friendly and amazing with my daughter. Really cannot fault them. During the stressful time when the nursery was changing to Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery it was a smooth transition and
straight away they started making amazing improvements to the already fantastic nursery, sparing no expense. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone. They are also very flexible with hours too which is definitely a bonus!
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Review from Sarah C (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has attended Tops Southsea for over two years. The staff are fantastic. Very attentive and keep the children busy. My child attends every day, and every day he tells me about all the activities he has done or outings they have had. Would recommend it to anyone.
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Review from Iwana L (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Have been very happy with the staff and the nursery in general. My daughter loves the time she spends there. I have, however, had more than one situation where I have asked to speak to the manager and have been told she was busy. I asked multiple times for her to get back to me, but I never got a callback.
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Review from Rachel S (Mother of Child) published on 21 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
I am very happy with this nursery which my son has been attending since the end of August 2020. My initial nursery viewing was with the manager who stayed later to meet me and was happy to answer any question I had. Since my son has started they have recognised that he needs more help with speech and
have discussed this with me. His diet at nursery is varied and healthy and they provide a lovely menu. The staff are friendly and he has taken to them all very quickly. They make pictures and do craft activities together amongst other things.
There is an app for communication between parents and nursery.
In terms of booking hours, they have a few different ways depending on your work which is really helpful and their staggered hourly charge system makes it just that bit more affordable and one of the reasons I chose this nursery.
One suggestion is that the daily updates have not been particularly regular and some days I don't get any photos or updates.
Overall my husband and I are really happy.
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Review from S M (Mother of Child) published on 9 December 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has been at this nursery since he was 7 months old and now he is a pre-schooler. He has absolutely loved his time here, even asking on days off whether he could go to nursery. I cannot rate the staff highly enough for providing such a caring and loving atmosphere. I know my son and us will be
very sad once it's time to move on to school.
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Review from Sophie F (Mother of Child) published on 26 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I had never put my son into the nursery before, we were looking at nurseries that are walking distance from where we live. Tops day in Southsea was the very first one we went to view and straight away chose to put my son into. He loved it on his settling in session, he didn’t want to come home at pick
up. He started at the beginning of September and only goes twice a week; when we tell him it’s nursery day and mention staff names he gets excited. All the staff have been very welcoming, my son has developed so much since he started. He does things he never uses to want to do at home and now thoroughly enjoys it. All staff are very polite and take part in all activities that happen throughout the year (Halloween, children in need) etc. Any worries you have, you can go to any staff member or the manager, and the worries disappear. Highly recommended! Thank you to all the staff for the work you do especially, during these hard times!
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Review from Pip I (Mother of Child) published on 24 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have so many wonderful and nice things to say about this nursery. My one year old started here last month and I was so anxious but I have been completely put at ease. The staff are kind and helpful and I can tell they really care about my child. He is so happy here and this has made our lives so much
easier.
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Review from Rhi L (Mother of Child) published on 10 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Can't sing their praises enough. My daughter started at the nursery when she was 10 months old and I was SO nervous. The staff here were so warm and welcoming and have continued with that caring attitude to date. My daughter has loved it from day one. Always involved in interesting activities, I have
no doubt that they've helped with her development significantly. Highly recommend.
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Review from Olivia G (Mother of Child) published on 10 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Incredible nursery with amazing staff. My child is completely happy to run off into the building every morning. He adores all the ladies and is so nurtured by them. The manager is so helpful and always prompt to respond to queries. I would never send my child anywhere else.
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Review from Sarah (Mother of Child) published on 31 August 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Sending my son to any nursery after returning to work was always going to be hard but the staff at Southsea put me at ease straight away - particularly the manager. Every time I drop my son off they seem so pleased to see him and he has taken to nursery better than I could have imagined, that has made
this transition in my family's life a positive one and I’m so grateful for that.
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Review from S R (Foster Parent of Child) published on 25 August 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have found this nursery to be highly accommodating for every need especially when asking for days/times to suit the individual. I have found all staff to be friendly and approachable nothing is too much trouble. My child has made friends quickly and looks forward to going to the nursery she especially
enjoys the lunch as there is such a variety to choose from, as well as the different areas for her to explore.
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Review from Vedia S (Mother of Child) published on 20 August 2020 Submitted via Postal Card • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Tops Day Nursery in Southsea have well trained staff who communicate with me well about my 3 year old girl who has been with the nursery since Jan 2020, they-the-staff interact with my little girl well from photos I have seen on my EY-Log and based on what I have seen first hand at the nursery. They
have great equipment for the children and great outdoor space.
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Review from Shay H (Mother of Child) published on 2 March 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We love the fact of how the nursery is very environment-friendly, lots of their resources and furniture are wooden. The staff are very friendly and listen to your needs as a parent. The nursery has a very homely feel about it which we love. The layout and resources are fantastic.
Me and my partner
viewed so many nurseries in Southsea and this was our last one to view and we came away knowing exactly which nursery we were going with for our little one.
They made us feel so welcome and actually spent time interacting with my boys which no other nursery did.
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Current Review Score: 8.1 (8.083)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 8.1 (8.083) out of 10 for Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 5.0 out of 5 from 1 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.1 out of 5 from 1 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 5.000 for Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (12 Excellents x 5) ) ÷ 12 Ratings = 5
  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 3.083 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery is based on 1 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 = 3
    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 60 number of registered child places is 12. 1 Positive Reviews ÷ 12 = 0.083
  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 (8)

Meet the Team (1)

Rachel

Rachel Harmer

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2005

1.   What qualifications do you have? Level 3 working towards level 5.


2.   How many years of experience do you have? 19 years in May.


3.   Hobbies/interests: music, spending time with family, walks.


4.   Fun fact: I do the worm at parties

Frequently Asked Questions about Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery accepts?

Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 4 years 11 months.

What Days & Hours is Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery Open?

Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery is open: 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.

How many Children does Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery have capacity for?

Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery has capacity for a total of 60 Children.

How far is Tops Day Nurseries: Southsea Nursery to the centre of Southsea?

0.5 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

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