Business Details
31 Years
experience
Trusted Childcare & Preschool in Romsey
Abbotswood Day Nursery has been nurturing children in a stimulating, nature-rich environment since 1995. Our growth-centric approach prioritises individualised care, fostering resilience, confidence, and independence through tailored learning experiences. With four dedicated age-group spacesBabies, Tweenies, Toddlers, and Pre-schoolwe provide structured yet flexible programmes that encourage exploration and creativity. Our Ofsted-registered facility, consistently rated Good, expanded in 2020 with a purpose-built Adventure Lodge to enhance outdoor learning.Surrounded by oak and beech trees in Romsey, our team of experienced childcare professionals delivers home-cooked seasonal meals and maintains strong partnerships with local schools to ensure seamless transitions to formal education. During the pandemic, we adapted operations to safeguard wellbeing while maintaining educational quality, earning recognition for our exceptional service. Our staff undergo continuous professional development to uphold high standards in early years education.
Services
Babies Care
Tweenies Programme
Toddlers Development
Pre-school Education
Outdoor Learning
Seasonal Meals
Forest School Activities
Transition Support
Apprenticeships
Qualified Practitioner Training
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We offer 25+ years of specialised early years expertise in a natural woodland setting
- Our outdoor Adventure Lodge enhances learning through nature-based exploration
- Daily home-cooked seasonal meals support healthy eating habits
- We maintain Ofsted Good ratings through consistent quality improvements
- Pandemic adaptations demonstrate operational resilience and child safety focus
Associations and certifications
- Ofsted EY448922
What people say
Caring staff
Outdoor learning
Pandemic handling
Nurturing environment
Smooth transitions
Services
Babies Care
Our Baby Room provides secure, stimulating care for children aged 3-16 months. Divided into activity, sensory, and sleep zones, we follow individual routines while encouraging developmental milestones through tactile play and nature exposure. Our key person approach ensures consistent bonding and progress tracking.
Pre-school Education
The Adventure Lodge offers forest school-style education for 3-5 year olds. Daily outdoor exploration builds resilience and creativity through den-building, nature studies, and risk-assessment activities. Indoor sessions focus on literacy, numeracy, and social skills to prepare children for formal schooling.
Outdoor Learning
Extensive woodland grounds facilitate daily outdoor sessions across all age groups. Children engage with natural elements through mud kitchens, loose-parts play, and seasonal exploration. This approach develops physical coordination, environmental awareness, and imaginative thinking in a safe, supervised setting.
Transition Support
We implement gradual transition plans between age groups using detailed handover reports. Staff collaborate with parents and local schools to ensure continuity in learning approaches and emotional support during key developmental stages.
Seasonal Meals
Daily home-cooked meals use seasonal ingredients to teach healthy eating habits. Menus accommodate dietary needs while introducing children to diverse flavours and food origins through interactive mealtime experiences.
People
Jenny Simmons
Founder
Established Abbotswood in 1995 following her family's move to the property. Pioneered nature-based learning approaches that remain central to the nursery's philosophy today.
Lou Simmons
Director
Took leadership in 2016 after working across all nursery departments. Overseen expansion projects including the 2020 Adventure Lodge development while maintaining Ofsted standards.
Questions
What age groups do you cater for?
We care for children aged 0-5 years across four dedicated rooms: Babies (3-16 months), Tweenies (16-26 months), Toddlers (24-36 months), and Pre-school (3-5 years).
Is your nursery Ofsted registered?
Yes, we hold Ofsted registration EY448922 and have maintained a Good rating since our 1995 registration, with our most recent inspection confirming continued quality standards.
How do you incorporate outdoor learning?
Children access extensive woodland grounds daily. Activities include forest school sessions, mud kitchens, loose-parts play, and nature exploration across our 5-acre site surrounded by oak and beech trees.
What food do you provide?
We prepare three fresh meals and two snacks daily using seasonal ingredients. Menus follow nutritional guidelines while introducing children to diverse tastes and healthy eating habits through interactive mealtimes.
How do you support pandemic safety?
We implemented enhanced hygiene protocols, reduced group sizes, and increased outdoor sessions during the pandemic. These measures, combined with staff training, ensured continuous safe operation while maintaining educational quality.
How can I arrange a visit?
Complete our online enquiry form for 2025/2026 spaces. We'll schedule a virtual tour and discuss your child's specific needs with our nursery team.
Videos
Reviews (5)
Rich Perkins
Sep 14, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality,Reliability,Responsiveness
Abbotswood pre-school and nursery have been brilliant to us. We would thoroughly recommend.
Abbotswood pre-school and nursery have been brilliant to us. We would thoroughly recommend.
Jessica Pellegrini
Aug 31, 2021
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Positive:Professionalism,Quality
Our son only attended this nursery for a short time before he started school once Covid-19 restrictions lifted earlier in the year. I can honestly say he has had a great time and all the staff were very helpful and friendly. It's a shame he couldn't stay longer!
Our son only attended this nursery for a short time before he started school once Covid-19 restrictions lifted earlier in the year. I can honestly say he has had a great time and all the staff were very helpful and friendly. It's a shame he couldn't stay longer!
DoodleDactyl
Feb 15, 2021
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Beautiful setting for a nursery and preschool. Fabulous loving and caring staff who make everyday such fun for the children. Keep up the good work Abbotswood!
Jon Mellows
Feb 08, 2021
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Abbotswood is just unique, they really care and our kids have always been so happy. It's just wonderful, especially the outdoorsyness of it. Couldn't recommended highly enough.
Alex Wright
Jan 01, 2021
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I provided Abbotswood with a temporary reface of their current signage until they get nice new signage in the near future and were easy to work with, excellent communication, friendly and beautiful staff and setting. Side note, seeing the kids playing in the outdoor area with the teachers and looks like a great place to send your children (if local!)
Look forward to working with you again in the future!
Look forward to working with you again in the future!
