Ofsted Report: Good
The quality and standards of the early years provision: Good
- Effectiveness of the leadership and management: Good
- Quality of teaching, learning and assessment: Good
- Personal development, behaviour and welfare: Good
- Outcomes for children: Good
About Spoonbill Under Threes
At Spoonbill, our aim is to ensure that all children in our care are given a safe and secure environment in which they can learn through play, thus putting in place the building blocks to create the foundations for their future. We offer a home from home environment in which the children have free flow play with continuous provision and adult enhanced activities, they have access to a wide range of resources to encourage imagination, development and learning. We use loose parts and heuristic play to enhance their learning as well as our years of child development knowledge. We encourage outdoor play as much as possible to build all those important gross motor skills as they need these to then work on their fine motor skills.
We use the graduated approach, with the child at the centre then the family and any others who are involved with the child. We assign a keyperson to a child when they are due to start following the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage), but that may change as we see who the child picks. as that bond and attachment is important especially when some of our parents can be deployed and away for significant periods of time or this could be the first time they are away from their parents. They need that person and security while they learn that you will always return.
We have an open-door policy so just come along, knock the door and be invited into our world of child led fun!
Contact
6 Shackleton Road
Gosport
PO13 9SG
Map It !
07773154759
spoonbill@navalunderfives.org.uk
Opening Hours
Mon: 07.00 – 17.00
Tue: 07.00 – 17.00
Wed: 07.00 – 17.00
Thu: 07.00 – 17.00
Fri: 07.00 – 17.00
Spoonbill Preschool Team Members
Helen Thomas – Manager/SENCO/DSL
My name is Helen, and I have had the privilege of being the manager of Spoonbill since September 2021. I have worked in Childcare since 2006. I have been a play worker, a lunch time supervisor, a registered childminder for 13 years and an early years practitioner before becoming manager of a Creche and then due to Covid becoming the manager here. Since I started here, we have had an Ofsted inspection which we had Good across the board and grade 5 from the Environmental Health Officer.
I am the mother of twin girls born 1997. My eldest has had on going medical issues since she was two and a half, which has given me a greater understanding of what it is like to look after a child with medical issues as well as dietary issues. This has enhanced my knowledge and practice. I have my level 4 in early years education as well as level 3 SENCO qualification and Level 3 DSL on top of our full paediatric first aid certificate and other ongoing training for my continuous professional development.
I have the best job in the world getting to work with these wonderful children and families# and staff.
Kerry Jones – Early Years Practitioner
My name is Kerry, and I am the Deputy and health and safety officer at Spoonbill.
I started childcare first as a nanny in London where I worked for two years until I decided to have my own family. I had three children. Once they were old enough, I decided I would like to work in a nursery, and I started working for Naval Under Fives in 2008. I love working with the children and seeing them grow and thrive as individuals.
Skye Bagnall – Early Years Practitioner
My name is Skye, and I am a practitioner at Spoonbill. I have just finished working at our sister setting Penguin where I was an apprentice gaining my Level 2 in Childcare. I had been helping 1 day a week in Spoonbill since I qualified and was offered a full-time position starting September 2025. I am now continuing my professional development by doing my Level 3.
Ellie-Mai Davis-Smethurst – Apprentice
My name is Ellie-Mai, and I am an apprentice at Spoonbill. I finished school in June 2025 and had already applied for the position at Spoonbill. I am now working and studying at Spoonbill to get my Level 2 in Childcare and then move onto my Level 3.
I have a passion for working with children and seeing them grow and thrive and I am looking forward to continuing my professional development at Spoonbill.
Nicola Harper
My name is Nicola. I work 1 day a week in Spoonbill along side my work in the Naval Under Fives office. When I started in the office in July 2024, I started coming down to do lunch cover. I then realised how much I enjoyed it so I am now doing my Level 3 in Childcare so I can be more helpful across the settings. I have a son who is attending another preschool in the chain.
