# Portico

Portico is a full-day nursery at 106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG, in Lea Green, St Helens. It is registered for 118 children. Its Ofsted report card (December 2025) grades inclusion Strong standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Strong standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard; safeguarding standards met. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 1 review (November 2026). It is run by Portico Day Nurseries Ltd.

Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/portico-ey552592  
Last checked 5 November 2026.

## At a glance

- Type: Full-day nursery
- Address: 106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG
- Registered places: 118
- Phone: 01744 833777
- Website: http://www.porticonurserygroup.co.uk/
- Run by: [Portico Day Nurseries Ltd](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/portico-day-nurseries-ltd)
- Ofsted URN: EY552592

## Ofsted and official records

Report card inspection, 9 December 2025. Report cards grade each area separately; there is no single headline grade.

| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Behaviour and routines | Strong standard |
| Children's welfare and well-being | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |

Safeguarding standards met.

Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY552592

Official records:

- Ofsted registration: Registered since September 2017 (Reference EY552592). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY552592)
- Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 9 December 2025). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY552592)
- Registered places: 118 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY552592)
- Food hygiene rating: 5 (Very good) (inspected 10 December 2025). Source: Food Standards Agency, checked 13 November 2026 (https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/1502012)

## Fees

Fees, hours and ages: not published yet.

## Hours and ages

Opening hours and ages: not published yet.

## Getting there

Address: 106 Mere Grange, Leaside, St Helens, WA9 5GG

Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=53.427092,-2.740798

- Station: Lea Green, 0.7 miles
- 8 bus stops within 400 m
- Park: Platt's Field, 0.2 miles
- Park: Sherdley Park, 0.2 miles
- Park: Breydon Park, 0.4 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.3 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.5 miles
- Playground: Playground, 0.5 miles

NaPTAN, Department for Transport, checked 13 November 2026 · © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026.

## Places and next steps

Spaces: not published yet.

In St Helens there are about 3.1 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021.

When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery

## Ratings

- Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 1 review (as of 5 November 2026)

## Nearby schools

Distances are in a straight line.

| School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St John Vianney Catholic Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Report card (May 2026) |  | 0.3 miles |
| Eaves Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (February 2023) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| Thatto Heath Community Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (October 2023) | yes | 0.8 miles |
| Sherdley Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (January 2023) | yes | 0.9 miles |
| Nutgrove Methodist Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | Quality of education: Requires improvement; Behaviour and attitudes: Requires improvement; Personal development: Requires improvement; Leadership and management: Requires improvement (February 2025) |  | 0.9 miles |
| St Austin's Catholic Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Report card (July 2026) | yes | 0.9 miles |
| Ash Meadow School |  | 5–18 |  |  | 1.0 miles |
| Sutton Manor Community Primary School | Primary | 2–11 | Good (December 2022) | yes | 1.0 miles |

## Nearby nurseries

| Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Small Wonders Day Care Nursery (lea Green)](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/small-wonders-day-care-nursery-lea-green-ey542306) | Good |  |  | 0.7 miles |
| [Thatto Heath Playdays](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/thatto-heath-playdays-2541807) | Outstanding |  |  | 0.9 miles |
| [Portico Poppets](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/portico-poppets-ey314827) | Outstanding |  |  | 0.9 miles |
| [Little Journeys Day Nursery](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/little-journeys-day-nursery-ey562856) | Good |  |  | 0.9 miles |
| [Small Wonders Day Care Nursery and Enhanced Activity Centre](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/small-wonders-day-care-nursery-and-enhanced-activity-centre-ey421911) | Good |  |  | 1.1 miles |
| [St Matthews Pre-School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/st-matthews-pre-school-2677404) | Good |  |  | 1.2 miles |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Portico's Ofsted rating?

Portico was inspected on 9 December 2025 and given an Ofsted report card. Report cards grade each area separately rather than giving one headline grade: inclusion Strong standard, curriculum and teaching Expected standard, achievement Expected standard, behaviour and routines Strong standard, children's welfare and well-being Expected standard and leadership and governance Expected standard. Safeguarding standards met.

### How many children can Portico take?

Portico is registered with Ofsted for up to 118 children at any one time.

### Who runs Portico?

Portico is run by Portico Day Nurseries Ltd, which runs 6 nurseries.

### What is the nearest station to Portico?

Lea Green is the nearest station we know of, 0.7 miles away in a straight line.

### How do I contact Portico?

You can call 01744 833777 and visit www.porticonurserygroup.co.uk.

## Sources

- Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/EY552592)
- Rating and review themes: Google, as of 5 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Portico+Nursery+%26+Pre-School&query_place_id=ChIJt_UHmokde0gRNa3Y4unMiNk)
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.