Where little explorers grow big futures
“Children arrive at the nursery full of excitement.”
Southbourne, April 2026Warm, small nurseries for children aged 6 months to 5 years — graded Strong standard by Ofsted at Southbourne and Good in every area at Purbrook, with daily sport from JC Sports coaches and updates to your phone all day long.
What Ofsted said about us
Southbourne was graded Strong standard for behaviour, wellbeing, inclusion and leadership in April 2026. Purbrook was graded Good in every area in April 2025. Safeguarding met at both. Here's what the inspectors wrote, word for word.
“Children arrive at the nursery full of excitement.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children have access to a highly impressive programme of physical development.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“This enables children to form warm and loving bonds with staff.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“There is a highly inclusive culture at the provision.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children demonstrate impressive independence in managing their own needs.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children form deep friendships with other children.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Staff are excellent role models.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children are articulate and have effective conversational skills.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Parents appreciate the involvement that they have in their children's learning, which includes daily feedback and detailed reports.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Stories, rhymes and discussions are very well embedded throughout the provision.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Staff feed back that they feel lucky to have such positive support from the leadership team.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children happily enter the nursery and confidently access the activities provided.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“They know the children extremely well and there is an effective key person system in place.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Managers provide an ambitious curriculum, which focuses on promoting independence and having good hygiene routines.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Managers use any additional funding well to support individual children's needs.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff feel extremely supported by their management team.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good self-esteem and show respect for others.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children communicate well with their peers and adults.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children move confidently and show strength in their hands for future writing.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Parents are very happy with the care provided.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children arrive at the nursery full of excitement.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children have access to a highly impressive programme of physical development.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“This enables children to form warm and loving bonds with staff.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“There is a highly inclusive culture at the provision.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children demonstrate impressive independence in managing their own needs.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children form deep friendships with other children.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Staff are excellent role models.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children are articulate and have effective conversational skills.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Parents appreciate the involvement that they have in their children's learning, which includes daily feedback and detailed reports.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Stories, rhymes and discussions are very well embedded throughout the provision.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Staff feed back that they feel lucky to have such positive support from the leadership team.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children happily enter the nursery and confidently access the activities provided.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“They know the children extremely well and there is an effective key person system in place.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Managers provide an ambitious curriculum, which focuses on promoting independence and having good hygiene routines.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Managers use any additional funding well to support individual children's needs.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff feel extremely supported by their management team.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good self-esteem and show respect for others.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children communicate well with their peers and adults.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children move confidently and show strength in their hands for future writing.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Parents are very happy with the care provided.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff are quick to welcome the children and provide comfort if needed.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children enjoy their learning experiences in this safe environment.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good personal development skills.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“All children have equal opportunities to achieve and are progressing well in their development.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good behaviour and are kind to each other.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff promote communication and language development well.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have many opportunities to extend their physical development.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff teach mathematics consistently throughout the day.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff communicate effectively with parents and keep them up to date on their child's development through an online system.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children thrive in the warm and welcoming environment that leaders and staff have thoughtfully created for them.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“The key-person system is highly effective.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“They demonstrate that they feel safe and have a deep sense of belonging.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children with SEND make impressive and sustained progress that provides them with the tools for the next stage in their learning.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children show extremely positive attitudes to their learning.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“They have warm and trusting bonds with staff.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children are caring, extremely thoughtful and well mannered.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Leaders have excellent partnerships with external professionals and parents.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children show their delight as they thoroughly enjoy dancing and music activities.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Attendance at the setting is excellent.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Staff are quick to welcome the children and provide comfort if needed.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children enjoy their learning experiences in this safe environment.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good personal development skills.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“All children have equal opportunities to achieve and are progressing well in their development.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have good behaviour and are kind to each other.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff promote communication and language development well.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children have many opportunities to extend their physical development.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff teach mathematics consistently throughout the day.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Staff communicate effectively with parents and keep them up to date on their child's development through an online system.”
Ofsted report · Good in every area“Children thrive in the warm and welcoming environment that leaders and staff have thoughtfully created for them.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“The key-person system is highly effective.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“They demonstrate that they feel safe and have a deep sense of belonging.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children with SEND make impressive and sustained progress that provides them with the tools for the next stage in their learning.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children show extremely positive attitudes to their learning.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“They have warm and trusting bonds with staff.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children are caring, extremely thoughtful and well mannered.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Leaders have excellent partnerships with external professionals and parents.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Children show their delight as they thoroughly enjoy dancing and music activities.”
Ofsted report · Strong standard“Attendance at the setting is excellent.”
Ofsted report · Strong standardTwo nurseries, one family
HampshirePurbrook
West SussexSouthbourne
What a day looks like
Warm welcome
A calm, cuddly start with your child's key person.
Explore & learn
Child-led play, with play and activities that build speech and language, early maths and messy creative fun.
Get active
Active play out in the garden — climbing, balancing and running.
Lunch together
Lunch round the table together, then rest or sleep.
Discover
Baking, music, stories, sensory play and nature walks.
Home time
A proper handover — and the day's photos already on Famly.
Small nurseries. Big futures.
Everything a big group offers — without losing the warmth of a nursery where everyone knows your child's name.
Daily sport with JC Sports coaches
Our sister company's qualified coaches run active sessions that build balance, confidence and healthy habits from the very start.
See their day on the Famly app
Photos, meals, naps and milestones sent to your phone — so you never miss a moment, even when they can't tell you yet.
Small, caring settings
Two small nurseries, not a chain. Every child has a key person who knows them, and you, really well.
Outdoors every single day
Gardens, mud kitchens, bug hunts and nature walks — rain or shine, our explorers get outside.
Child-led learning
We follow the EYFS and each child's interests, so learning feels like play and progress comes naturally.
Ready for school — and for life
Independence, kindness and confidence first, with communication, early maths and pencil-ready hands built in.
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Everything you need to decide, in one pack
- Fees, sessions and what's included
- How funded hours work with us
- Our routines and curriculum
- Settling in, meals and the Famly app
- How to book your visit
Get your free parent pack
Fees, sessions, menus and how to start, straight to your inbox.
Watch our video stories
Parents tell you why they chose us — and our team introduce themselves.
See a real day at JC Little Explorers
No stock photos, no actors — just our nurseries, our team and our little explorers. Then hear from the parents and staff who know us best.
Childcare that costs less than you think
Working parents can now get up to 30 funded hours a week from 9 months old. Babies are welcome from 6 months, and funding kicks in from the term after they turn 9 months. Answer two quick questions to see what you could get.
Stretched funding
Spread your hours across up to 52 weeks — ideal if you work through the holidays.
Tax-Free Childcare
Pay for extra hours with Tax-Free Childcare and save 20%.
How many free hours could you get?
Email me my funding summary
We'll send your funding breakdown with our parent pack.
Ask Jennifer, our virtual assistant
Get an answer in seconds, day or night: funded hours, sessions, settling in, Ofsted, or which nursery is nearest. Jennifer can book your tour and pass your details straight to the nursery manager.
- Replies instantly, 24/7
- Books your tour
- Sends your parent pack
Good questions
What did Ofsted say about you?
Southbourne was inspected in April 2026 and graded Strong standard for behaviour, welfare and wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership, with safeguarding met. Purbrook was graded Good in every area in April 2025. Both full reports are on the Ofsted website.
What ages do you take?
We care for children from 6 months to 5 years. Babies are welcome from 6 months on a fee-paying basis, and funded hours can start from the term after they turn 9 months.
What are your opening hours?
Monday to Friday, all year round. Purbrook is open 7:30am – 6:00pm and Southbourne 8:00am – 6:00pm.
Do you accept funded hours?
Yes. We accept 15 and 30 funded hours for eligible families from the term after your child turns 9 months (younger babies are welcome on a fee-paying basis), and offer stretched funding across up to 52 weeks. Use our funding checker to see what you could get.
How much are your fees?
Our fees, session options and what's included are all in our free Parent Pack — request it and it lands in your inbox straight away.
How does settling in work?
Every child has settling-in sessions with their key person, building up gradually so they (and you!) feel confident before their first full day.
Do you provide meals?
Yes — fresh meals and snacks are provided daily, and we plan any dietary needs with you before your child starts.
How will I know how my child's day went?
Through the Famly app: photos, observations, meals, naps and nappy changes — plus a proper chat at pick-up.
Can I come and look around first?
Of course — we'd love you to. Book a tour online in under a minute and meet the team, look around and ask anything.
Come and see us — your little explorer is welcome too
A tour takes about 30 minutes. Meet the team, look around and ask anything. Most parents tell us they knew within five minutes.