The Little Shipmates Family: Day care nurseries in Southampton, Hythe & Basingstoke

With locations in Southampton, Hythe and Basingstoke, The Little Shipmates Family is made up of five day care nurseries. Each space has its own unique characteristics and atmosphere, offering a truly special experience curated according to the needs of the parents and children we support.

Our nurseries Contact us

With locations in Southampton, Hythe and Basingstoke, The Little Shipmates Family is made up of five day care nurseries and one dedicated pre-school. Each space has its own unique characteristics and atmosphere, offering a truly special experience curated according to the needs of the parents and children we support.

Our Nurseries

About The Little Shipmates Family

Little Shipmates is a family of established and well-regarded day care nurseries, each one focusing on the provision of high quality childcare and nursery education for families across Hampshire. We take a child-centred approach that reflects the unique needs of our local communities, cultivating a safe and supportive space that allows children to develop socially, physically, intellectually and emotionally. Working in close partnership with parents, carers and Ofsted, we take pride in creating an environment that is as enriching as it is enjoyable – ensuring a happy and rewarding nursery experience for parents and children alike.

In all of our day care nurseries, we promise to:

Care for each child as an individual
Challenge your child on a daily basis
Provide knowledgeable, enthusiastic and empathetic staff
Invest in our nurseries so we can continue to improve

Enquire about space availability

Child-centred approach

Our pragmatic approach to nursery care ensures that your child will develop a sense of independence, respect for others, and self-confidence.

Everything is provided for you

All you need to do is drop off your child and we will provide everything else – including nappies/wipes, meals, snacks, special diets, feeding bottles and more.

Experienced, knowledgeable and fully trained staff

All our staff members have nationally recognised qualifications in first aid, health and safety, childcare and food hygiene. Some are also proficient in multiple languages, ensuring all of our children have the opportunity to achieve and excel.

Varied, tasty and well-balanced meals

With dedicated on-site chefs and specialist nursery caterers on hand to prepare our meals, we serve tasty and at the same time nutritious meals for all our little ones. We can also cater for all special dietary requirements and preferences.

Helping parents and children every step of the way

We understand that leaving a child at nursery for the first time can be a challenging experience for a parent. That is why we offer special “stay and play” sessions, home visits, and plenty of other options to ensure the transition is a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. Just give us a call to discuss your needs with a member of our friendly team.

A huge range of funding support options

At The Little Shipmates Family, we believe that every child should have the chance to experience nursery, no matter what their circumstances. We also understand that childcare can create a considerable financial strain on families. For this reason, we will happily accept all forms of funding support to help cover the costs of our day nurseries – including workplace voucher schemes, student finance, government support and tax credits. We also offer ‘stretched funding’ for the Early Years Entitlement Funding scheme, which means that all three-year-olds can have ten hours’ childcare funding per week, all year from the term after their third birthday. Consumables and food cost may apply.

Find out more about funding options