Pinecones Day Nursery

Pinecones Day Nursery

A nurturing and creative environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn through play

Mon - Fri: 08:00 - 18:00
Age: 0 - 60 months
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Open Day: Sat 11 Jul
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We’re here for you Mon - Fri: 07:00 - 18:30

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About Pinecones Day Nursery

  • Pinecones Day Nursery is an OFSTED GOOD (2024) nursery nestled on the grounds of Totton College, offering a purpose built, open plan setting for children aged 3 months to 4 years. Our cosy baby room cares for up to 15 little ones a day with a 3:1 ratio, while our early years room brings together up to 35 2-4 year olds in a mixed age environment where younger children naturally learn alongside older role models.

  • Guided by The Curiosity Approach, every space is thoughtfully designed with open ended, natural resources that spark imagination and invite little learners to explore at their own pace. A large part of the nursery day is spent outdoors where children climb, dig, build and get wonderfully messy in our mud kitchen.

  • Fresh, home cooked meals are prepared daily by our cook Penny, and our close knit team works hand in hand with families to ensure every child feels safe, settled and truly at home.

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Nursery Facilities

Discover the facilities available at our nursery and how they support your child's care, learning, and development.

Buggy Store

Buggy Store

A dedicated space to safely store your buggy during the day, making drop-off and pick-up easier and hassle-free.

Our Nursery Fees

We understand how important it is to have a clear picture of the costs associated with your child's care. Our fee sheet is designed to be transparent and straightforward, so please click below and take your time to look through it.

You can also learn more about fees and funding options on our dedicated pages Fees and funding page

If you have any questions at all, please do get in touch. We are always happy to talk things through with you.

Nutritional Approach

We believe food is fundamental to healthy growth, happy minds, and positive lifelong habits. In the earliest years, what children eat shapes taste preferences, supports brain development, and lays the foundations for long-term health.

All meals are freshly prepared on site each day using quality, seasonal ingredients. Our menus are developed with expert guidance, designed for inclusion, and go beyond Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. We want every child to become a confident, curious eater.

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Meet Our Nursery Manager

Gemma Bratherton

Hi, my name is Gemma, and I'm the Nursery Manager at Pinecones Day Nursery. I joined the team in March 2018 and have loved supporting the nursery in developing our ethos, curriculum, and the professional growth of our wonderful team.

I've worked in childcare since 2007, gaining my Level 3 Diploma, a Foundation Degree in Early Years, and a BA (Hons) in Early Childhood along the way. In 2025, I also took on the role of Leading Foundation Stage Practitioner for Hampshire, supporting managers and practitioners across the county in developing best practice. I'm passionate about giving children the very best start in life through positive interactions and inviting environments they'll remember for a lifetime.

What to Expect on Your Nursery Tour

Open Day photo
Open Day photo
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Our Next Open Day

Saturday 11th July:10am-1pm

Meet our friendly team

Meet our friendly team

Learn about our curriculum

Learn about our curriculum

Explore funding options

Explore funding options

Explore our rooms and areas

Explore our rooms and areas

Our Commitments

Our curriculum is built around five core commitments that guide how we nurture every child.

Critical And Creative Thinkers

Nurturing curiosity and confidence to imagine, test ideas, and solve problems through exploration.

Sense of Belonging

Building secure, trusting relationships so every child feels safe, valued, and confident.

Explorers of Our World

Connecting children to nature through outdoor experiences that build resilience and independence.

Confident Communicators

Supporting every child to express themselves in ways that are meaningful to them.

Happy and Healthy

Encouraging physical activity, healthy eating, and joyful experiences that support lifelong wellbeing.

Our Curriculum

At Pinecones, we believe children learn best through explorative, child-led play. Guided by The Curiosity Approach, our skilled practitioners tune in to each child's interests and create thoughtful invitations to learn that spark curiosity, imagination, and wonder. We've stepped away from commercial toys in favour of authentic materials and loose parts - think ceramic tea sets, buttons, corks, and fabrics - encouraging open-ended, imaginative play where no two days are ever the same.

Our nurseries are calm, tranquil spaces designed with neutral colours and natural materials, striking the right balance between engagement and your child's wellbeing. A majority of the nursery day is spent outdoors - come rain or shine - where children explore, read, hunt for bugs, and make mud pies! We also nurture strong community connections through visits to our local library, police station, and feeder schools, helping your child build confidence and independence for the adventures ahead.

What Parents Say About Us

8.6

Review Score for Pinecones Day Nursery

5 reviews


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July 2, 2026

Review of Pinecones Day Nursery

Pinecones is an incredible nursery and I have complete peace of mind when my son and daughter are there. I know they are is happy and safe. The staff go out of their way to provide personalised care for the children and clearly know them well. Communication to parents is second to none and parent voice is at the forefront. The huge range of activities the children take part in are clearly thought out, aiding the children's development and key skills such as independence, fine and gross motor skills and communication . Gemma's leadership is inspirational. She clearly knows EVERY child, supports her staff and is always happy to spend time answering any questions we may have.

Hannah B

July 2, 2026

Review of Pinecones Day Nursery

Our son joined pinecones at 11 months old back in Sept 22. Being first time parents we were unsure what it would feel like sending our son to an 'unfamiliar' place, however the team at pinecones made us feel as if they had known and they cared for our son as a member of our family would. Jayne and the team in the baby room nurtured our son on the days we were in and let him explore (and get messy!) which he absolutely loves! Not only has the care been excellent, and the communication from Gemma and the team, his social and language skills developed so quickly with the help of the team and the other children. We get the impression he is able to express himself and be 'questioned' therefore using his speech. Our son loves the outdoors, so knowing he is able to be outside in almost all weather is also a wonderful perk of pinecones. We know he is kept warm and dry as he has so many changes of clothes! Pinecones has helped our son grow into a social, confident and charismatic little boy.

Elinor H

July 2, 2026

Review of Pinecones Day Nursery

My son has been in this nursery since 11 months old. He started in the baby room and is now in the early years room. His care from the nursery has been absolutely phenomenal and all the staff are genuinely so happy to be doing their job and go above and beyond constantly. My son has come on leaps and bounds since starting at nursery and has learnt so much. It is amazing watching him grow in different play styles and vocabulary. They provide such a vast array of different meals which means my son is always getting a great variety of foods when he is there. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone looking for exceptional childcare.

Jo D

July 8, 2023

Review of Pinecones Day Nursery

We took our 15-month-old (September 2022) to Pinecones and he has flourished from his 1st session in the baby room to his integration into the early years room. We absolutely love the free-to-explore idea which allows the children to decide how to play inside or outside. The staff are amazing and so nurturing and dedicated to developing happy learning. The interaction with parents is great with important feedback. He enjoys the new foods he gets to eat.

P S

July 8, 2023

Review of Pinecones Day Nursery

Pinecones is an incredible nursery, the staff are all absolutely amazing, my son is extremely happy at Pinecones as was my oldest for the 3 years he was there before going off to school. I couldn’t recommend Pinecones enough. All staff make sure you are up to date with everything, the communication is fantastic, so much effort and loyalty is put in from each and every staff member, they go above and beyond. The nursery is beautifully laid out, with new fun things to do on a daily basis for children. They learn so much. Myself and my children couldn’t be happier.

Keelie P