Big Discoveries Nursery

Portchester Community Centre, Westlands Grove, Fareham PO16 9AD
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9.9 43 Reviews
  • Big Discoveries Nursery, Fareham
Big Discoveries Nursery provides a fun and stimulating place to learn for 0-5-year-olds within the Portchester Community Centre.

Children develop a passion for learning within a caring environment within a well resourced indoor area and a large outdoor garden. The learning here is child-led; all resources are available at the children's level for them to choose how they want to fill their day.

There is free-flow into the large garden allowing for them to take their learning outdoors as much as they want. The environment and ethos are not just about preparing children for skills for school but skills for life.

The nursery is open 48 weeks a year and is open from 8am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Care Provided by Big Discoveries Nursery

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

Good to Know

  • Owner
  • Beejal Mistry and Kirsty Bavister
  • Person in charge
  • Kirsty Bavister and Beejal Mistry (Owner/Manager)
  • Number of Childcare Staff
  • 9
  • Total Places for Children
  • 36
  • Age Range
    • from 0 years 0 months
    • to 5 years 0 months
  • Opening Times
  • Monday 08:00-17:00
    Tuesday 08:00-17:00
    Wednesday 08:00-17:00
    Thursday 08:00-17:00
    Friday 08:00-17:00
  • When Closed
  • Bank Holidays, Easter & Christmas
  • Parking
  • There is a large car park outside the Community Centre


Big Discoveries Nursery Reviews (43)

Total of 43, showing 1-20
9.9

Big Discoveries Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.887) out of 10, based on 15 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Big Discoveries Nursery has 43 reviews.

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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our little boy absolutely loves Big Discoveries Nursery. We moved him there as we had a bad experience with another. We love the amount of outdoor activity there is and the free flow of different age groups. The staff really care about the children and engage with their emotions and development. Our
little boy learns so much and has come on leaps and bounds. He learnt to walk there and has so much confidence. We get daily reports on his day along with photos. We are supported as parents and always feel listened to. We trust them and that's the biggest decision when leaving our child. All the staff are amazing.
I would highly recommend this nursery.

Reply from Amy Stanley, Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to leave us a review. We are so happy to be part of your little one's learning journey and to see him make progress week on week. But more than this, we are thrilled that you are equally as happy with the service you receive as a parent. We look forward to his future endeavours with your family.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff at Big Discoveries are absolutely stellar. Our children have thrived through their journey at Big Discoveriers and I cannot praise the entire team there highly enough. They have carefully managed the various dietary requirements that our children have had and always greet both parents and
children with welcoming smiles and I know that our children love them all very dearly. Keep up the fantastic work guys!

Reply from Amy Stanley, Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We absolutely love working with your girls and seeing them develop their interests and personalities. They bring us joy! We look forward to all future development stages and adventures!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

After moving my son from another local nursery to Big Discoveries we have seen nothing but positive changes. His independent skills have grown immensely and he is now able to carry out tasks such as dressing himself, putting on his own shoes, and using the toilet with confidence. The nursery gives children
the freedom to choose what activities they would like to do and my little boy loves to spend most of his time playing in the garden area and always comes home telling me about all the fun things he's done outdoors! All the staff at the nursery are so friendly and caring and the end of the day handovers are always detailed which is very important to me as it's something we lacked at our last nursery setting. We are expecting a baby and have already enrolled her to start next year as we have been so impressed with the care at Big Discoveries.

Reply from Amy Stanley, Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write this kind review. It is nice to know that all of the team's hard work is evident in the children's development and you get to see the impact of this at home. We strive to support life skills here at Big Discoveries and it has been wonderful for us to see your little boy soar in his development and that he is proud of himself too! We look forward to meeting baby number two and continuing to work with your family.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Fantastic nursery. I have seen a huge development in my son since he has been at Big Discoveries Nursery and he absolutely loves it! All of the staff are so helpful and friendly and treat each child as an individual and extremely caring.
I highly recommend Big Discoveries.
Thank you to all of the
team.

Reply from Amy Stanley, Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you kindly for taking the time to write this lovely review. We are so glad that, as a mummy, you are pleased with our service. Seeing your little boy grow in confidence and make leaps in his learning is what it is all about and what we do this for. We look forward to continuing to work with your family and seeing future progress in your child's development.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Staff are friendly, helpful, caring and nurturing. The setting is a lovely size for the children to feel comfortable and safe in. My son came home with a smile every day. Thank you for helping him build confidence and learn new skills.
Special thank you to the team for making my son's experience one
that he enjoyed. I will miss dropping him and he will miss coming to spend his days with you.
Highly recommended.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you so much for taking the time to write a review for us. It genuinely means the world. We already miss your little man and all of the team are super proud of how far he had come! We are sure that he is going to do well on his school adventure and wish you all the best of luck.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Big Discoveries Nursery has been lovely and has brought my little girl on brilliantly with all their support and love and I look forward to my baby girl starting in September.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to give us a review. We have loved having your big girl and we are feeling proud of how well she has done this last year. The team are excited to welcome your little one, come September, for more adventures and Big Discoveries!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

What a wonderful nursery with fantastic and caring staff! Our son has been through a lot, and we were extremely anxious about him starting nursery, but there is nowhere else we would send him! They are caring, compassionate and, above all, a huge support for our son and us as a family! Both my children
have attended Big Discoveries and have seen us through many milestones! They are part of our family, and we are forever grateful for their unconditional love and care for our little ones! Our son has made huge progress, and that is thanks to their continued efforts and commitment! The staff go above and beyond.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to give us a review. The staff put their heart into what they do and work hard to develop the children's interests. We are glad that this it is evident to parents and carers. We look forward to all of the firsts to come and to watch your son explore and grow whilst having fun.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

I could not recommend Big Discoveries enough. The staff are amazing; they take the time to really get to know and understand your child, and because of this, my children have really flourished. Both my children love going to nursery, and the range of learning opportunities they get is fantastic.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to submit a review. We are privileged to have been part of your children world and will certainly miss your eldest. But, we are happy that our journey continues and we look forward to watching your youngest baby grow as we prepare to get him ready for school this year.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

As a mother of two children who have attended Big Discoveries one who still attends and a third due to start I can honestly say there is nowhere else I would consider sending my babies. Big Discoveries is such a lovely environment, I chose this nursery as I loved the open setting where the younger and
older children can all interact with safe spaces available for babies. The open garden was also a huge plus in our decision-making, all my children love the outdoors so this meant a lot to us that our children would have the opportunity to play outside every day rain or shine. Finally the staff who work at big discoveries are incredible, to say the least! I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone with my 2nd daughter at just 10 months when she started but I could instantly feel the love and care they had for her. The relationships that they have built with my children is amazing - my eldest still loves to pop in for a chat and of course a cuddle or two.
Thank you for being amazing!

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write a review for us. Seeing your children and come through our doors beaming and ready to explore is just wonderful. Knowing that you trust us with all of your babies means the world to us. We look forward to watching them grow and getting ready for school in a couple of years.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son has attended Big Discoveries Nursery for nearly a year. He has lots of fun playing especially in the garden (the outside space is amazing). The staff are great and come up with such a range of imaginative activities. My son has developed a lot in the year and that's all thanks to the incredible
staff. I would 100% recommend!

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for taking the time to write a review for us. We love working with your family and have been proud to see your child settle and make leaps in his learning. Seeing his smile when he is exploring the animals and all the garden has to offer, makes our day brighter. We look forward to being part of future progress and fun whilst we have him here with us.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Big Discoveries Nursery is just that, a place full of Big Discoveries! From garden fun, playing in the digging pit or zooming around on balance bikes to making friends and learning life skills.
I cannot thank the team at Big Discoveries enough for helping our little boy grow in confidence, independence
and get ready for big school while having fun along the way.
I 100% support their child-led learning approach. They respect the children for who they are and adapt to them to help with their learning.
I'd highly recommended the lovely ladies here. So supportive and friendly.
We'll miss you all - thank you so much for everything.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you very much for your kind review. We are certainly going to miss your little man! To have watched him grow into a chatty, capable and confident little boy, who is so ready for school, has been a privilege.
We are warmed to hear that our ethos is seen and supported by parents and we wish you all the best for the future.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Our daughter has been at Big Discoveries Nursery for just over 3 years now and she has sadly left for primary school in September. In those 3 years, she has enjoyed the most wonderful time, with the most amazing staff! Staff that really take the time to get to know the children as individuals. They
were always kind, caring and supportive, not only to our daughter but to us as parents. She has enjoyed the many activities, crafts and unlimited structured and unstructured play that they have offered. Especially enjoying her time spent in the garden and outside space, tending to fruits and vegetables and playing in the mud kitchen. She would always have a fun story to share with us when she came home. I have and will continue to 100% recommend Big Discoveries Nursery to anyone looking for a nursery or preschool.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you so much for your heart felt review. It has been an honor to work with you and to get you know all over the last three years. We are sad to see your child off to school. But, we know that she is going with all the skills she needs and a confidence that is going to take her far in life. We wish her the best of luck on her new adventures!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My child loves going to nursery. He always has super fun and the ladies are always coming up with new ideas for play.
Communication is always clear which is super important.
Thank you to Big Discoveries Nursery for everything!

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for your kind review, we are glad to hear that you are happy with the care that you receive.
We are super proud to be watching the progress that your little man is making and look forward to our future fun!


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son is so happy at this nursery and has come on leaps and bounds during his time here. I am so pleased with his progress and the ladies that work there are amazing.
I love the outside space for the children and really love getting updates on the app.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for your review, it means the world that you take the time to share this. We love working with you all and the team are so proud to see your little man blossom and enjoy everything that is on offer here. We look forward to continuing to watch him learn new skills and develop.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My daughter is set to leave this term and I cannot express how amazing Big Discoveries Nursery have been with her development. She loves every minute of being there and I know she will truly miss it when she leaves. As a parent all you want is the best for your child- to know they are cared for and
that you trust the people looking after them. I truly feel that at Big Discoveries. For the last few years it’s been a pleasure to be part of what they are and stand for. I know they have played a massive part in her readiness for school. Her personality has been encouraged and she really has flourished. So a massive thank you from us!

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you so much for your lovely review. Your kind words will be well received by the team. We can honestly say it has been a pleasure to watch your little girl grow and see the huge leaps in progress that she has made! We will miss her and all of her ways. We wish her the best of luck in big school.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My son very much enjoys attending nursery as there are always fun things for them to do. We have found from different activities provided he is always learning something new. The staff are all very welcoming, lovely and very trustworthy. I love that they always put out different snacks for the kids
so they are always trying new fruit and veg.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thanks for your kind review, we love having your son here and have seen him grow and change so much. We look forward to lots more fun and learning together.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We opted to transfer our daughter to Big Discoveries Nursery due to location and because we felt her previous care provision wasn't a great fit for her character. We felt a more open plan child-led environment would be beneficial to her. In our 3 months' experience, we have been thoroughly impressed.
By the staff, their interaction and engagement with the children, and the range of activities. It's reassuring that our daughter is so keen to attend and is her exuberant self when I pick her up.
We've found the communication to be excellent both in-person and via the online journal. We would not hesitate to recommend it.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner at Big Discoveries Nursery

Thank you for taking the time for your kind review. The team have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your daughter as she settled into our nursery community. We are looking forward to plenty more adventures and exploration here and lots more practical life activities which she seems so keen to be exploring at the moment.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

All the staff at the nursery are loving and supportive. My daughter has been with them for two years now and we've never had an issue. My daughter loves her key worker and they have a very special bond. It's a lovely, safe place for my daughter to grow and learn.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner/Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

We appreciate your kind review, your daughter has grown so much and is a pleasure to have in our nursery family, she is such a social happy girl. We have loved seeing how she has flourished in independence going into preschool.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

We moved my daughter from a bigger nursery to here in August 2022 and we are so pleased we did. She was screaming and crying every time she went to nursery and would worry about it on a Sunday night and now she is excited, goes in happy and she loves it. We have seen such a difference in her in the
last couple of months, in her happiness and learning she is coming on leaps and bounds since moving, we just wish we had moved her sooner. It's a lovely nursery and the staff are lovely, the setting is lovely. I would recommend 100% for any child.

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner/Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

We are so pleased your daughter has settled so well with us, her confidence has grown from strength to strength. The team are looking forward to continuing with her favourite activities of crafting and puzzles alongside other new adventures that await.


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Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My son currently attends Big Discoveries Nursery and has been here just over a year now. He absolutely loves going to play. He has lots of fun playing in the garden on the bikes, making play dough, reading books, singing, dancing, crafting and lots more. The staff are amazing and really caring. They
work really hard to give each child the best experience every day and my son always comes out with a great big smile on his face. They have helped encourage with healthy eating and trying new foods (my son is fussy). The staff have also been great with supporting my son with potty training which has been amazing and together we have mastered it. My son has come a long way in the year he has attended with his learning and thats all thanks to the staff.
The nursery is a safe and clean environment for the children. I highly recommend Big Discoveries - 10/10!

Reply from Kirsty Bavister, Owner/Manager at Big Discoveries Nursery

Your son has grown so much from a teeny tot into an energetic and thoughtful pre-schooler. The team enjoy his caring and chatty personality. We are so pleased that you are happy with our provision, thank you for taking the time to review us.


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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.887)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.887) out of 10 for Big Discoveries Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 15 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 15 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 4.887 for Big Discoveries Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (158 Excellents x 5) + (18 Goods x 4) + (1 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 177 Ratings = 4.887

  • 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 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Big Discoveries Nursery is based on 15 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 36 number of registered child places is 7.2, which has been reached with 15 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Big Discoveries Nursery

What is the Age Range of Children that Big Discoveries Nursery accepts?

Big Discoveries Nursery accepts Children aged from 0 years 0 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is Big Discoveries Nursery Open?

Big Discoveries Nursery is open: Monday 08:00-17:00, Tuesday 08:00-17:00, Wednesday 08:00-17:00, Thursday 08:00-17:00, Friday 08:00-17:00.

How many Children does Big Discoveries Nursery have capacity for?

Big Discoveries Nursery has capacity for a total of 36 Children.

How far is Big Discoveries Nursery to the centre of Fareham?

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