Portico
Day nursery in St Helens, WA9.
106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG
Run by Portico Day Nurseries What Ofsted found
Expected standard in 4 of 6 Inspected 9 December 2025
| Area | Grade | What the grade means |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusion | Strong standard | Better than the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard | Meets the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Achievement | Expected standard | Meets the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Behaviour, attitudes and routines | Strong standard | Better than the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Children’s welfare and well-being | Expected standard | Meets the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard | Meets the standard Ofsted expects of every nursery. |
| Safeguarding | Met | Ofsted found the nursery keeps children safe in the ways the law requires. |
What a place could cost
Portico sets its own prices. These are the averages for day nurseries in North West, for 50 hours a week in term time once the 30 funded hours are taken off.
| Child's age | You pay a week | About a month |
|---|---|---|
| From 9 months to 2 | £136 | £429 |
| 2 years old | £124 | £391 |
| 3 to 4 years old | £120 | £381 |
A month here is 38 term-time weeks spread over 12 months. Work out your own hours or check your free hours.
Portico against St Helens
| Portico | St Helens average | |
|---|---|---|
| Places | 118 | 72 |
| Ofsted outcome | Expected standard in 4 of 6 | 83% rated Good or better |
Other nurseries close by
- Portico Poppets Outstanding, 50 places, WA9 5QH
- Early Learners Nursery (Parr) Ltd Good, 71 places, WA9 1QU
- General Day Nursery & After School Good, 96 places, WA9 5AB
Portico is run by Portico Day Nurseries, which has 6 nurseries in England and 2 rated Outstanding. See its nurseries in St Helens.
Questions parents ask about Portico
- What Ofsted grade does Portico have?
- Portico has one of Ofsted's new report cards, from its inspection on 9 December 2025. Its most common grade is expected standard in 4 of 6 areas, and safeguarding was met.
- How many children can Portico take?
- Ofsted registers Portico for 118 places at any one time. The average day nursery in St Helens has 72.
- How much does Portico cost?
- Portico sets its own fees, so ask it for a price list. As a guide, the average nursery in North West charges £178 a week for 25 hours for a child under 2, before any free hours.
- Does Portico offer 30 hours free childcare?
- Any nursery on the Ofsted Early Years Register can offer the funded hours, but each one chooses how many funded places it has and what it charges for meals and extras. Ask Portico how it offers them.
- When was Portico last inspected?
- Ofsted last inspected Portico on 9 December 2025. The full report is on the Ofsted website.
- Is Portico part of a nursery group?
- Yes. Portico is one of 6 day nurseries in England run by Portico Day Nurseries.
Nursery list and inspection outcomes from Ofsted's register of childcare providers, as at 30 June 2026.
Fees shown are regional averages from the Coram Family and Childcare Survey 2026, not any one nursery’s price. Confirm with the nursery before enrolling.
Eligibility rules are the government’s (childcarechoices.gov.uk). Whether a nursery offers the funded hours, and what it charges for meals and consumables, is the nursery’s decision; ask for its funded-hours terms in writing.