YMCA Andover Nursery
Address: YMCA Nursery Andover, Dairy Road, East Anton, Andover, SP11 6YG
Children flourish in the care of staff, who meet children's needs with considerable care, patience and sensitivity.
– Ofsted
Ofsted rating: Outstanding
YMCA Andover Nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
Food hygiene rated 5
Top hygiene score for peace of mind at mealtimes.
Google rating: 4.7★
Rated by parents on Google for this location.
About Our Nursery
Andover Nursery is a modern, welcoming space where children are encouraged to explore, build confidence, and grow at their own pace.
Inside the nursery children enjoy bright, thoughtfully designed rooms including a unique indoor play tower in the preschool room where climbing, movement, and imagination are part of everyday play.
Our large garden provides plenty of space for outdoor adventures, while fresh meals prepared on site and a strong focus on school readiness help children develop independence and confidence.
Families often describe Andover as friendly and supportive, with baby and toddler groups and community initiatives helping the nursery feel connected to the wider community.
Hannh Sullivan
Nursery Manager
Jasmine
SENCO Lead Practitioner
Tami
Nursery Administrator
Nursery families across Andover
Our Andover nursery welcomes families from across the local area, offering flexible childcare, funded places and support with school readiness.
We also help children prepare for transitions to local schools including Endeavour Primary School, Kirk Campus and Icknield School, supporting confidence, independence and early learning development before school starts.
What families love most
A few of the everyday details that make YMCA feel easy, supportive, and full of adventure.
Balanced meals
Nutritious, child-friendly food with options for allergies and dietary requirements, supported by our 5-star hygiene rating.
Open longer
Flexible hours with breakfast club available. See our rates for the full breakdown and session options.
Outdoor play and learning
Outdoor learning is part of everyday life here, whatever the season, with regular access to fresh air, space, and nature.
School readiness
Our Little Steps, Giant Leaps approach builds confidence across emotional, social, physical, and early learning skills, ready for school.
Inclusive Classroom Profile
A practical framework that helps us keep improving inclusion, environment, and everyday support for every child.
Rooms for every stage
From first cuddles to confident school starters, each room is designed around the way children really grow with familiar adults, thoughtful spaces, and a steady rhythm to the day.
Babies 4 months–2 years
A calm first room where babies feel safe, soothed, and known. We follow your child’s cues, build secure bonds, and offer gentle sensory experiences throughout the day.
Ratio: 1:3
Jasmine
SENCO Lead Practitioner
Toddlers 2–3 years
Toddlers are finding their feet and their voice. We support independence in small, meaningful ways, with consistent routines, lots of language, and play that matches their energy.
Ratio: 1:5
Charlotte
Lead Practitioner
Preschool 3–5 years
School readiness without the rush. We strengthen early skills, independence, and friendships through play led learning, small group moments, and purposeful daily routines.
Ratio: 1:8
Lauren
Lead Practitioner
Settling In
Settling sessions usually begin around 4 to 6 weeks before your child’s start date. We keep the process gentle and flexible, with time to build familiarity, confidence, and trust before their first full day.
We offer three 60 minute settling sessions to help your child feel comfortable in their new room. The first session is with a parent or carer present, then visits two and three are stay and play sessions without parents. If your child needs more time, we can always add extra settles to support them.
First visit with you
A 60 minute settling session with a parent or carer present. This is a chance to meet the team, explore the room together, and help your child begin building familiarity in a safe and reassuring way.
Stay and play
A 60 minute stay and play session without parents present. Your child spends time with the team, gets used to the room routine, and starts forming those early nursery connections.
Another stay and play
A final 60 minute stay and play session without parents present, giving your child more time to settle, grow in confidence, and get ready for their start with us.
Life at Nursery
A calm rhythm of play, care routines, outdoor moments, food and rest.
Breakfast club
A calm start to the day for children who arrive early.
Free play and self registration
Children settle in, choose activities, and ease into the morning.
Nappy change and small group time
Care routines alongside small group moments with familiar adults.
Snack time
A refuel break before children head back into play and learning.
Structured, focus and child initiated activities
Learning through play, exploration and creativity, indoors and out.
Nappy change and large group time
Care routines plus group moments like stories, singing and sharing.
Lunch time
A social part of the day with balanced meals and gentle routines.
Sleep time
A quiet rest period with soothing routines and comfort.
Structured, focus and child initiated activities
Afternoon play and learning with plenty of outdoor moments.
Nappy change and small group time
Care routines and smaller group moments before tea.
Tea time
A final refuel before the home time wind down.
Free play and handover
End of day play and warm handovers with families.
What parents say
Families tell us the difference is in the everyday details. Warm key worker relationships, clear communication, and children coming home happy and settled.
My daughter started preschool at YMCA after moving in the area. With the care, support and attention of the staff Guler is now upset to come home! All staff members are extremely attentive and patient...
Dilara O
Google review
A wonderful place for a child's healthy development! The staff are fantastic and our daughter loves it there. She absolutely loves it and so do we! Thank you to all.
Natalia D
Google review
Excellent staff, they all do incredible work at the nursery. They have helped my son transition and manage him perfectly from babies to the toddler group. I have seen him grow and develop amazingly...
Oliver H
Google review
Really well-deserved ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Report! Always knew this nursery was the one! My daughter goes in Happy and comes out Happy! I cannot wait to watch both my children thrive in a place they love!
Heather H
Google review
Our first child went to the nursery when it first opened and she had such a wonderful time there... So when we had another baby, there was no question about where we would send him because they are all so lovely and caring at the YMCA.
Monique S
Google review
Amazing staff and nursery. Honestly cannot fault anything. My daughter loved her time and misses the team very much. The outside space is fantastic and the children are always outside. They really work hard preparing the children for school.
Louise L
Google review
The YMCA Nursery is simply the best! I have 2 children here and I couldn’t think of a better place for them to be... One of my children has SEN and they have been outstanding in supporting his development...
Clare B
Google review
Sensory • Creative • Seasonal
Messy play with meaning
Messy play is a big part of nursery life and is often planned around the weekly book we are sharing with the children, the Makaton signs they are learning, and the wider activities taking place that week. This helps children connect what they are seeing, hearing and exploring each day in a fun, hands on way. We also enjoy creating seasonal messy play experiences throughout the year.
How it all links together
We choose a weekly story to read with the children each day, then use that as inspiration for messy play, creative activities and the signs they are learning. It gives children lots of chances to revisit the same ideas in different ways and brings their learning to life through play.
Stay close to your child's day
Photos, updates and messages from your child's key worker — all in one place, without chasing for news.
Meet the Andover Nursery Team
Pick a room and we’ll introduce you to the lovely people who make it feel like home.
Leave a review
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Do you offer funded childcare in Andover?
Yes. We offer funded childcare places for eligible families, including 15 and 30 hour funding options for babies, toddlers and preschool children.
For more information about funding options, eligibility and stretched funding, please visit our funded childcare page.
What age can my child start at your Andover nursery?
Children can join our Andover nursery from 4 months old through to preschool age, with age appropriate environments designed to support every stage of early childhood development.
Which areas do families travel from to attend your nursery?
Families regularly join us from East Anton, Augusta Park, Picket Piece, Enham Alamein, Charlton, Picket Twenty, The Chariots and Saxon Heights, as well as wider Andover communities.
How do you help children prepare for school?
Our nursery supports school readiness through communication, confidence building, independence, emotional development and play based learning experiences.
Many children transition on to local schools including Endeavour Primary School, Kirk Campus and Icknield School.
Do you support working parents with flexible childcare?
Yes. Our nursery supports many working families across Andover with childcare options designed to help parents balance work, commuting and family life.
How do you help children settle into nursery?
We understand that starting nursery is a big milestone for both children and parents. Our team works closely with families to create a gradual and supportive settling in process that helps children feel safe, secure and confident.
You can learn more about our settling sessions and settling in approach.
Nursery Fees Estimate
Quick, first-glance monthly estimates based on YMCA Andover fees. Monthly payments are calculated as weekly × 51 ÷ 12. View YMCA Andover Nursery rate sheet here