Nursery

Children are full of wonder. They love magic, mystery and play. As the mother of two beautiful girls myself, I know that the quality of care a child receives in his or her earliest years is key to helping them grow. And I know the most important thing for a parent is to see your child happy and secure.

Our aim at Ark Ayrton is to create an inclusive, loving, caring environment, a home from home in which children florish in their education through fun and play. Our nursery is a place where children will discover awe and wonder as they play.

Our friendly, highly-trained staff focus on teaching through play, capturing and extending magical learning moments. Our children are supported in their own research projects through free-flow play activities with a large amount of time spent outdoors in the bug hotel or courtyard garden.

We try to use our imagination and get children to use theirs. Whether we’re learning through storytelling, creating a magic den or outside counting leaves, we want our children to say ‘wow!’

Our children become confident explorers, with a strong sense of self-worth. We benefit from being able to use school facilities, which means we can offer a wide variety of dance and PE lessons. This also helps children to prepare for reception – they leave us ready and excited, and aren’t daunted by the size and noise of big school.

We’re so lucky with the great space we have, and the community we serve. We hope you’ll arrange a visit to come and see for yourself.

Ages 2-5.

We’re open from 7.30am – 5.00pm on weekdays, term time. 

We're opposite the Southsea Fire Station, between Fratton and Portsmouth and Southsea train stations.

We provide nutritious meals twice a day. As well as snack in the morning and afternoons. 

Our Early Years Educators are room based, when children join nursery they are given a keyperson, who will lead their education and care alongside other practitoners in the room, all key people are highly trained and qualified practitioners.

Our staff team is one of the friendliest families. Many of our staff have trained at the nursery, know the community well and have watched families grow. Some of our practitoners have been with us for 15 years or more, and this low turnover rate brings continuity and security to the children in our care. Our children develop strong links and bonds with people looking after them, and this attachment helps them thrive.

Our preschool room has an early years teacher who works alongside the lead practitoner to ensure we are providing the best possible education for our children. As well as providing nurturing child centred learning, they work to make sure every child is ready to transition to school smoothly and happily. In preschool, children wear a uniform and have more structured activities with a curriculum that leads them into reception.

Our rooms:

• Startpoint (2yrs - preschool) - led by Kimberley Todd
• Whitby (preschool: year before school) - led by Gemma Paddon 
• Hartland Point - led by Amanda Phillimore

Room leaders are supported by:

• Anne H Chapman – Execuitve Headteacher of Ark Ayrton Primary Academy and Ark Ayrton Nursery
• Sophie Bennet-Acres - Headteacher of Ark Ayrton Primary 
• Julie Ayrton – Manager of Ark Ayrton Nursery
• Kimberely Todd - Startpoint lead and named Deputy Manager
• Jessica Knight – Early Years teacher & accredited SENCO
• Amanda Phillimore - Accredited SENCO

Our nursery is an oasis in a big city, with a large natural garden where children can play and explore. Each learning room opens out to a wild courtyard, so children can free flow from inside to outside as much as they wish.

We want to make a difference to the lives of children in our care. Our goal is to make sure children feel loved and secure through every phase of their early years with us. Our staff support parents to continue their child’s learning journey at home, and to build links between home and nursery so children are happy and secure. 

We also work to prepare children for school, ensuring they have the physical skills and social skills needed to take part in their reception class activities and aren’t daunted by the big school environment. We work in partnership with other agencies, for example speech and language therapists and occupational health as well as working closely with the teachers in the school itself.