Play Away Day Nursery - West End

1-5 Chapel Road, West End, Southampton SO30 3FE
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9.6 18 Reviews
  • Play Away Day Nursery - West End, Southampton
Play Away Day Nursery is located in West End, Southampton, and offers day care for up to 100 children from 3 months to 5 years old. They are open year round, from Monday-Friday between 7.30am and 6.30pm, closing only for bank holidays.

The nursery is made up of three separate buildings, all designed to provide children an array of opportunities to suit their development stage and likes and dislikes. The nursery also boasts a beautiful outside space including sensory gardens, playground equipment and dens. It also leads on to Hatch Grange Nature Reserve, allowing children to explore the natural world right from their front door.

The team are friendly and experienced, dedicating each day to providing a safe and engaging environment for each child.

Play Away takes every measure to maintain safety, including fingerprint identification to enter the setting, to give you peace of mind that your child is in the very best care during their time at the nursery.

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Care Provided by Play Away Day Nursery - West End

  • Type of Service
  • Day Nursery – Privately Owned
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Good to Know

  • Person in charge
  • Simon Evans (Nursery Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 31
  • Total Places for Children
  • 100
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 3 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 & 1 week at Christmas week

Play Away Day Nursery - West End Reviews (18)

9.6

Play Away Day Nursery - West End has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.646) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Play Away Day Nursery - West End has 18 reviews.

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Review from L M (Mother of Child) published on 9 October 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter is thriving at Play Away Day Nursery. She is always so happy at drop off and pick up. The team are fantastic, despite a hard day looking after kiddies, they are all so enthusiastic and engaging. They all clearly love what they do. The developmental activities and the care they give are
outstanding and we have really seen a difference in our daughter since she has joined Play Away West End. A huge thank you to the whole team.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your daughter is thriving at Play Away Day Nursery and that she's happy at both drop-off and pick-up. It's great to know that you've noticed the positive impact of the developmental activities and care provided by our team.


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Review from B C (Father of Child) published on 8 October 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very good and my child could not be happier. Like things like shoes off when I pick her up.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your positive feedback! We're so happy to hear that your child is thriving and enjoying their time at the nursery. We appreciate you noticing the little details, like the shoes-off policy, as we strive to create a comfortable and welcoming environment for the children.


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Review from R P (Father of Child) published on 8 October 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both our boys thoroughly enjoyed their time at Play Away. The staff have great care and a genuine connection to the kids.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your lovely review! We're so happy to hear both your boys had such a fantastic experience at Play Away. Building those genuine connections with the children is at the heart of what we do, and it's wonderful to know that care shone through. We'll cherish the memories and wish your boys all the best in their next adventures!


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Review from E G (Mother of Child) published on 8 October 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Really supported us with his transition to start. He loves Nursey - started crying when being left but now stays more than happy. When I collect he is playing and very content. They have catered to his milk as he still has a few bottles. Always reports his day back to me. Every day they do different
activities. My older children attended this nursery too, even with SEN they were supported well and cared for.

Reply from Jennifer OShea, Customer Experience Team Leader at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you so much for your kind words! We're so happy to hear that your little one has settled in well and is enjoying his time at nursery. It's wonderful to know that the team has been able to support his needs and provide engaging activities every day.


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Review from S C (Mother of Child) published on 8 October 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child loves it here. He was a confident baby before but he has grown immensely since being here. The development they have given is amazing. He has so much fun.
When settling in the staff supported us in any worries. You felt confident they were in good hands.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for such a kind and thoughtful review! It's amazing to hear how much your little one has grown and developed during his time with us - watching that confidence shine is what we live for. Settling in can be a big step, and we're so glad our team could support you every step of the way. Your trust means everything, and we can't wait to see him achieve even more milestones with us.


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Review from M P (Mother of Child) published on 21 August 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The nursery have been incredible and have played a massive part in my child's development! He's attended Play Away since he was 13 months old and is about to leave to start school! All the staff are so lovely and create a real connection with each child and their parents! We have loved our time with
Play Away and I know he'll really miss everyone there!

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

What an incredible journey your little one has had with us. Thank you for sharing it with such warmth! Starting at 13 months and now heading off to school - it's been a joy to watch him grow and thrive. Knowing that he (and you!) formed such strong connections with our team is the highest compliment. We'll miss him dearly but are so excited to see him spread his wings. Thank you for being part of the Play Away family!


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Review from Diana D (Mother of Child) published on 11 July 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We've had our two boys at Play Away, with my oldest now about to turn 10 yrs.
The staff are kind, caring, and supportive. They create a lovely homely environment full of creativity, fun, and sensory activities that make every day different. Both of my children have absolutely thrived here, they've
always felt comfortable and safe with the staff, and as a parent, I could honestly not ask for more.
We have enjoyed being part of the Play Away, West End family and they have played such a special role in our children's lives.
Our little boy just turned 3 and he's happy to join Elmer's Elephants every morning.
I personally love receiving regular photo updates of how he's getting on while I'm at work, these just make my day.
Well done team!

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for such a heartwarming review! It's incredible to hear about your journey with us, spanning nearly a decade. Knowing your boys have thrived in our creative, fun and sensory-rich environment means the world to us. Play Away is thrilled to welcome your little one every morning and those photo updates are our way of sharing the joy with you. Here's to many more happy memories together!


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Review from L C (Father of Child) published on 26 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All daughter seems very happy and content at nursery. She has formed bonds with both the staff and children. We love the daily update and photos, regularly, keeping us updated with how she gets on each day. The activities are varied and we appreciate every opportunity is taken to spend time outdoors
whenever possible. Everyone at the nursery has been friendly, welcoming and approachable. It's great to see so many people who know our daughter's name. It really puts us both at ease when we drop her off.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're thrilled to know your daughter is happy and content, forming bonds with both staff and children. Our daily updates and photos are designed to keep you connected to her day, and it's wonderful to hear they bring you joy. We believe in the power of outdoor activities and are glad you appreciate this. Your kind words about our friendly and approachable team mean a lot to us!


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Review from E N (Mother of Child) published on 12 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I couldn't be more happy with the nursery. Since the very beginning my little one loved going there.
Staff is always friendly and happy to help.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your enthusiastic review! It's fantastic to hear that your little one loved coming to our nursery right from the start. Our friendly and helpful staff are dedicated to creating a joyful environment, and we're thrilled to know you're so happy with the care we provide. Here's to many more fun-filled days ahead!


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Review from Molly R (Mother of Child) published on 5 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Very good, my child always comes home very happy and well-fed! Always tells me what exciting activity they have done that day! My child always says how much she loves her nursery practitioner, they are always so lovely and polite to us and everyone!

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

We're so pleased to hear your child comes home happy and well-fed! Our team works hard to create exciting activities and it's heartening to know they've made such a positive impact. It's wonderful to hear how much your child loves their nursery practitioner - we believe in building strong, loving relationships. Thank you for your kind words!


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Review from S P (Father of Child) published on 5 June 2024
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Friendly environment. The staff care about the children and the children look happy.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for sharing your positive experience! We're delighted your child settled in quickly and that our friendly staff made you feel welcome. It's wonderful to hear that some familiar faces from 4-5 years ago are still with us. We're proud to accommodate and understand your child's allergies, ensuring a safe and nurturing environment. Your appreciation of our communication means a lot!


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Review from Nat M (Mother of Child) published on 28 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child attends this nursery setting and we are really happy with the care he receives. He settled in very quickly. All members of staff we have engaged with are really friendly. Some staff members are still there from when our first child attended 4-5 years ago which is nice to see. The nursery have
been really accommodating and understanding of our child's allergies. The communication is great and we are kept updated regularly.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

We're thrilled to hear your child settled in quickly and enjoys their time at our nursery. It's wonderful to know our friendly staff and consistent communication have made a difference. Seeing familiar faces from when your first child attended is indeed special. We're dedicated to accommodating and understanding each child's unique needs. Thank you for your kind words!


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Review from Vicki M (Mother of Child) published on 21 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son is so well supported in Paddingtons preschool room. The staff there really encourage their development and learning. The new manager has made a great difference. I particularly like the recent trip to the park to give them new experiences. I value the new changes to the room and supporting their
transition to school. His key worker has always been the most helpful and understanding person who my son adores. Recently has some challenges with another child and the manager's reaction was excellent, called me to discuss my email and reacted effectively and promptly, as did the rest of the team.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

We're overjoyed to hear about your son's positive experience in Paddington's preschool room! Our team's dedication to encouraging development and learning is something we take great pride in. It's fantastic to hear the new manager and recent changes have had such a positive impact. The trip to the park and supporting transitions to school are part of our commitment to new experiences and smooth transitions. Thank you for your wonderful feedback!


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Review from D C (Father of Child) published on 20 May 2024
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending since 2023. He's always happy when going in and staff are happy on drop off and collection, also ask how he's been and if we've had a lovely weekend. Receive a handover of what he has done throughout the day. Have weekly observations of him playing and interacting with other
children and staff, as well as meals, nappies, sleep etc. on the app.
He loves the outdoors and they have large gardens which he can access throughout the day.
The meals that he gets are fantastic, and a variety of different food that I wouldn't even think of cooking at home.
Thank you Play Away team you are all fantastic at what you do.

Reply from Sonny, Marketing at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your fantastic review! It's wonderful to hear your son is always happy and enjoys his time at Play Away. Our team loves to keep you updated with detailed handovers and weekly observations. Knowing he enjoys our large gardens and diverse meals brings us great joy. We're thrilled to have your family with us and look forward to many more happy days together!


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Review from J C (Mother of Child) published on 13 September 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our child has been at the West End Nursery for about 6 weeks and we have been delighted with the care and attention they have received from all the team.
The nursery staff have taken the time to make us feel at ease with leaving our child there, which has made the transition a smooth one for us all.
The
activities they involve the children in are great and we have been very impressed by the food served as well.
We would recommend Play Away Day Nursery to other parents.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear that your child has had a positive experience at West End Nursery during their first 6 weeks. It's wonderful to know that the staff has been supportive and that the transition has been smooth for your family.


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Review from M N (Father of Child) published on 8 August 2023
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We are thoroughly impressed with the care our child is receiving. He is learning a lot at the nursery, and he seems very happy.
Many thanks!

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for the lovely review. We're delighted to hear that you're impressed with the care your child is receiving at the nursery and that he's both learning and thriving.


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Review from Caroline G (Mother of Child) published on 3 August 2023
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my children (aged 22 months and 4 years) are currently attending Play Away and are flourishing in the caring, educational environment.
The staff are fantastic, and I know my children are well cared for and happy going in. They are always cheerful at the end of the day and report back on how much
fun they have had.
The food is varied and enjoyed by my children, and allergies are treated with care; they eat better at the nursery than they do at home!
Communication with key workers is good, and I am kept updated regularly with activities they take part in.
Staff have been great in helping with milestones such as walking, talking, potty training and preparing for school.
Overall, a fantastic nursery.

Reply from Sid, Senior Marketing Executive at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We are glad to hear about your children's positive experiences at Play Away.


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Review from Abbigail S (Mother of Child) published on 17 October 2022
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has been attending since September 2021 and being a mother you worry about leaving them with strangers, however choosing this nursery has been the best thing I have done. I cannot fault anything about the nursery or staff. I feel he is safe and well looked after and treated with lots of love
and compassion. The staff have made it so welcoming and my son always leaves happy and content. I cannot thank them enough for my peace of mind about his well-being while I am working.

Reply from Harjit, Digital Marketing Executive at Play Away Day Nursery - West End

Thank you for the review and we are very pleased you are happy with the nursery and leaving your son with us.


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Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.646)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.646) out of 10 for Play Away Day Nursery - West End is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 4.9 out of 5 from 17 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:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.796 for Play Away Day Nursery - West End is calculated as follows: ( (171 Excellents x 5) + (22 Goods x 4) + (5 Satisfactorys x 3) + (3 Poors x 2) ) ÷ 201 Ratings = 4.796

  • b) 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 4.85 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Play Away Day Nursery - West End is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 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

    • ii) 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 100 number of registered child places is 20. 17 Positive Reviews ÷ 20 = 0.85

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

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Awards / Recognitions (3)

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Meet the Team (1)

Laura

Laura Allen

Job Title: Deputy Manager

Joined: 2013

My name is Laura, and I am Deputy Manager at Play Away Day Nursery in West End.


I have been working in childcare for 18 years and hold a BTEC National Diploma from my Early Years.


I take great pride in helping children reach their full potential and discovering all their interests.


I am passionate about books; sharing that enthusiasm with the children as they discover the joy you get from reading.


Frequently Asked Questions about Play Away Day Nursery - West End

What is the Age Range of Children that Play Away Day Nursery - West End accepts?

Play Away Day Nursery - West End accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Play Away Day Nursery - West End Open?

Play Away Day Nursery - West End 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 Play Away Day Nursery - West End have capacity for?

Play Away Day Nursery - West End has capacity for a total of 100 Children.

How far is Play Away Day Nursery - West End to the centre of Southampton?

3.3 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 Play Away Day Nursery - West End to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Play Away Day Nursery - West End has a Platinum Service – more info.