There are several quality assurance schemes for nurseries, but in Southampton the National Day Nurseries scheme -'Quality Counts' - is the one most commonly used.

The 'Quality Counts' kite-mark acts as an indicator to parents of an independent assessment of quality, over and above the National Standards set by OfSTED. The nursery works towards ten compulsory modules and four optional modules before assessment and accreditation. The nursery undertakes training and self-assessment to ensure that it has addressed all the criteria and it is then externally assessed.

Quality Counts standards encourage and facilitate partnerships with parents in the care and early education of their child.

Quality Counts has Investors in Children status.