Ofsted rating: Good
YMCA Little Whale Nursery is rated Good 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
Little Whale Nursery on Whale Island is a warm, secure and welcoming setting where children are supported to play, learn and build confidence from the very start.
Based at HMS Excellent, the nursery is especially well suited to service families and the wider forces community, while still welcoming civilian families and children from outside the base community too.
We are proud to support military families, and service personnel receive a 50% discount on booked off days, helping to make childcare more flexible around service life.
Children benefit from fresh meals, strong school readiness and a nurturing team.
Samantha Martin
Nursery Manager
Kirstine Aldridge
SENCO
Sophie Cooper
Nursery Administrator
Nursery families across Portsmouth
Our Little Whale 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 Harbour Schools, Stamshaw Junior School and Ark Dickens Primary Academy , supporting confidence, independence and early learning development before school starts.
What families love most
From everyday care to the moments that really matter, here are some of the things that make Little Whale feel so supportive for families.
A moment that mattered
Support that goes beyond the everyday
When one child’s father was deployed at sea, our team noticed how difficult the separation felt and created a simple daily ritual around a much loved Dragon toy.
Each morning, Dragon would “fly out” to visit the ship, then return to nursery with stories of adventure. Staff made time to sit together, share photos, talk about the journey and imagine the places his father might be.
“Dragon became a link between us. Talking about Dragon’s visits helped Benjamin cope with our separation. This was only possible because our staff made time specifically for Benjamin. His one to one support was incredible.”
Parent feedback
- Thoughtful emotional support shaped around the child
- A real understanding of service family life and separation
- One to one care that builds trust, comfort and connection
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, giving children regular opportunities to explore, move and build confidence.
School readiness
Our Little Steps, Giant Leaps approach builds confidence across emotional, social, physical and early learning skills, ready for school.
Inclusive support
A thoughtful, responsive approach helps us create an environment where every child feels included, understood and supported.
Rooms for every stage
From babies finding their feet to preschool children getting ready for school, each room at Little Whale is designed to feel calm, secure and age appropriate, with familiar adults and the right support at every stage.
Adventurers 4 months–2 years
Our youngest children are cared for in a warm, nurturing environment where routines, reassurance and close relationships help them feel safe, settled and ready to explore.
Ratio: 1:3
Kirstine
SENCO & Deputy Manager
Explorers 2–3 years
In Explorers, children are encouraged to build confidence, communication and independence through active play, clear routines and plenty of support as they learn to do more for themselves.
Ratio: 1:5
Amy
Room Lead
Discoverers 3–4 years
Our preschool children are supported to think independently, build friendships and strengthen the everyday skills that help them feel confident, capable and ready for their move to school.
Ratio: 1:8
Amy
Room Lead
Supporting Royal Navy families
Life at Little Whale is closely connected to the Royal Navy community around us, and we are proud to help children feel part of that world in meaningful, memorable ways.
Royal Navy family life
Special experiences, shared traditions and a strong sense of community
We support Royal Navy families through meaningful experiences and shared traditions. Children take part in remembrance activities and create pieces to share with serving members on base, helping them feel part of the community around them.
Being based at HMS Excellent means access to truly special moments — from watching helicopters take off and land to seeing them up close.
We have even seen HRH King Charles visit and land on base, creating memorable experiences that very few nurseries can offer.
Settling In
Starting nursery is a big step for children and parents. Our settling in sessions are gentle, supportive and designed to help your child feel secure, familiar and ready for their new routine.
We offer three one hour settling sessions. The first is with a parent or carer, followed by two independent sessions so your child can begin building confidence with familiar adults, routines and spaces.
First visit with you
A one hour session where you stay with your child while they meet their key person, explore the room and begin getting used to the new environment.
First independent session
A one hour visit without parents, giving your child time to build trust with staff, take part in play and begin settling into the flow of the day.
Building confidence
A final one hour independent session to help your child feel even more familiar with the setting, routines and adults before their regular sessions begin.
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.
Exceptional nursery. Sarah and the team work really hard to make this a welcoming and inclusive environment. They accommodate the needs of individual children and parents. The nursery has a very good programme for military children that helps them cope when a parent is deployed. It includes a dedicated care worker who will work with you to develop a tailored package to deal with individual needs. It is outstanding. They look after the children superbly and the location benefits from safe and secure walks, marching bands and the odd Royal visitor.
Michael H
Google review
My daughter is very shy and has always been very clingy with me so I knew it would be hard when the time came for her to start nursery. She joined Little Whale Nursery at only ten months and despite the emotional start, she now at age 3 loves going in, has a great relationship with the staff and has friends there who she looks forward to seeing every day. Her confidence has grown and grown and it's so nice driving away in the morning knowing she is going to have a great day. Everyone is very kind and I love the fact that the children get so much time in the garden to enjoy the fresh air. Thank you all for all you do.
Sophie K
Google review
My 2 year old twins have been attending YMCA Little Whale Nursery for 3 months and they love it. They call the nursery staff their best friends and love playing in the big adventure play park attached to the nursery. They get lunch and tea provided which saves me so much hassle while working and the menus are fantastic. We are very happy here.
Hannah M
Google review
All three of my daughters have attended the nursery over the course of 12 years with my youngest daughter starting three weeks ago. The nursery is as magical as the very first day we joined all those years ago and the staff are so welcoming and friendly. The updates on my daughters' daily antics are wonderful. We couldn't be happier with our decision to return to YMCA a third time round.
Daniella L
Google review
Highly recommend YMCA Little Whale Nursery. The staff are lovely and supportive and have been a great comfort to our family, specifically during times of deployment. A lot of time is spent outside, not only playing but learning new life skills. The environment feels very safe and it is great to know that they can go on walks, exploring and learning road safety on the base.
Lindsay C
Google review
My son hasn't been attending very long but I've never seen him so tired ... and that's a good thing. He spends so much time outside, getting messy and loving life. The food provided is great and he eats everything. The staff are so approachable and very transparent with his care, future goals and are so friendly, nothing is too much trouble. I'm so so pleased we made the choice to move here.
Nikki N
Google review
Couldn't be happier with the nursery, the staff and services are brilliant. I love how much time the little ones get to spend outside. My little one has come on leaps and bounds since starting this nursery, she loves all the staff so much and settled so quickly. Couldn't recommend the nursery more.
Kyla C
Google review
This is hands down the best nursery I’ve ever sent my children to. It is a total home away from home for my kids, the staff are all amazing, so conscientious and caring. I feel totally safe leaving them here knowing they will be in the best hands. The activities they get up to are varied and age appropriate, the handovers in the evening are thorough and they keep you informed at all times if there’s an accident or an incident that needs dealing with. There’s also great support both for parents and little ones when it comes to military deployments. I would highly recommend it to other parents. It is really top notch.
Annabelle R
Google review
It felt like such a mountain to climb, the idea of sending our little boy to nursery as a baby, but the team at Little Whales have been incredible from day 1. You can see the incredible care and attention the team give to the children. We are so glad we chose this nursery and would recommend it to anyone.
Harriet 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.
Communication & Partnership with Parents
We believe parents are our partners in every child’s journey. Through the ParentZone app, you’ll receive regular updates, photos and videos, and you can message your child’s key worker anytime.
Can my child attend if I’m not in the Royal Navy?
Yes. We welcome both military and civilian families. Around 70% of our families are serving personnel and 30% are not.
Do I need security clearance to access the base?
No formal clearance is required, but a DBS check is needed to come onto the base for nursery drop off and collection. We’ll guide you through the process.
Do you offer military discounts?
We don’t offer a standard discount, but we do offer 50% off during planned nursery holidays.
What happens if I’m deployed or away?
We support children through time apart with simple, meaningful routines that help them feel connected, reassured, and secure while you’re away.
Meet the Little Whale Nursery Team
Pick a room and we’ll introduce you to the lovely people who make it feel like home.
Nursery Fees Estimate
Quick, first-glance monthly estimates based on YMCA Little Whale fees. Monthly payments are calculated as weekly × 51 ÷ 12. View YMCA Little Whale Nursery rate sheet here