Busy Otters Preschool

A parent-led preschool with dance, gardening and cookery in its activity offer, Busy Otters Preschool has a clear community character. Its trustees govern the setting, while a committee helps with fundraising. That gives parents a role in the organisation beyond their child's attendance.

At its 17 June 2021 inspection, Ofsted rated Busy Otters Good. The preschool has capacity for 28 children aged 24 to 60 months, making this an option for families seeking preschool provision rather than baby care.

Attendance follows the school terms, with full-day, morning and afternoon bookings. The practical appeal is choice within a compact day: families can choose a shorter session or stay through lunch.

Play and learning sit together here. The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the framework for children's learning and development; in parent language, that means learning through play while developing communication, physical skills and relationships.

P-E-A-C-H-Y is the preschool's statement of values, bringing together a positive mindset, encouragement, confidence, care and individuality. Its emphasis on having a go and continuing to try gives families a useful sense of the attitudes the setting wants children to develop.

The activity offer includes weekly dance, alongside DramaTots, cookery and gardening. DramaTots is included in the separately charged activity offer, with an option to decline the charge and agree alternatives. Seasonal and cultural celebrations also form part of that offer, giving activities a connection to occasions beyond the everyday routine.

These choices have a practical consequence: families can take part in the charged activity package or agree a different arrangement. Participation costs should therefore be considered alongside the attendance pattern, rather than treated as part of the funded entitlement itself.

Responsibility for safeguarding sits with designated lead and deputy lead roles. There is also a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator. These give parents identifiable responsibilities to turn to when discussing a concern or a child's support needs.

Family information includes DIAS (Devon Information, Advice & Support), which provides confidential, impartial SEND advice, and ERIC, a source of information about bladder and bowel health. Speech and language resources are included too. For a family dealing with communication or toileting questions, these offer routes to information alongside conversations with preschool staff.

Food arrangements require some preparation at home. Afternoon sessions need a packed lunch, while morning sessions exclude lunch; snacks, drinks and food for celebrations sit within a separate, optional food charge. Parents also supply wipes for children wearing nappies, while the non-food charge covers sun cream, nappy sacks and wipes used for other hygiene purposes.

Sessions and Attendance

The preschool opens Monday to Friday, from 9.15am to 3.15pm. It operates during term time and closes for school holidays and bank holidays, so families needing care throughout the year must plan around those breaks.

A Full Day runs from 9.15am to 3.15pm. Morning bookings run from 9.15am to 12.15pm, and Afternoon bookings from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The afternoon packed-lunch requirement matters when organising the handover between home and preschool.

Getting There

Busy Otters is on Longdogs Lane, Ottery Saint Mary, EX11 1HY. Enquiries can be made by email, telephone or the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Eligible children can use up to 15 or 30 hours of government-funded care each week. Additional private hours are charged separately, and the attendance offer is term-time. Current prices come in the preschool's written quotation.

The food, non-food consumables and activity charges are optional, including for children using funded places. Families can decline one or more categories without affecting their child's funded place; the preschool then agrees suitable alternatives. The sessions, fees and funding page explains that structure.

• Holiday cover. School holidays and bank holidays fall outside the attendance offer. This suits a term-time routine, but families working through those breaks need a separate care arrangement.
• Lunch and extras. Afternoon attendance requires a packed lunch, and snacks, consumables and activities have separate optional charges. Decide which categories you want before agreeing the overall cost.
• A visit with a purpose. Visits are arranged by appointment. Ask how settling and the key-person relationship work for your child, alongside the preschool's named safeguarding and SEND responsibilities.

Busy Otters suits families wanting morning, afternoon or full-day preschool attendance within school terms. Its parent governance and activity offer give it a community emphasis, while the optional extras structure lets families make choices about spending. The Good judgement provides a dated inspection reference; the attendance timetable and holiday closures are the decisive practical considerations.