Ottertots Day Care Nursery Exmouth

Its own woodland and a large indoor soft play area give Ottertots Day Care Nursery Exmouth a clear outdoor character, with space for physical play when the weather turns. This is the Hulham Road nursery in Exmouth, with capacity for 60 children from birth to five years. Woodland exploration is part of its identity, rather than an occasional change of scenery.

At its October 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the nursery Good, with activities that connected practical tasks, conversation and children's growing independence. That judgement comes with two useful cautions: babies needed clearer indoor space for movement, and staff needed to leave children longer to answer questions.

Families can choose a Short Day or an All day pattern. The difference matters beyond collection time: the longer booking includes breakfast and tea as well as lunch.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage provides the framework for children's learning, development and care. In everyday terms, that brings play, language, movement and independence together, rather than treating learning as a separate lesson. The woodland offers a concrete setting for this: children can explore natural materials and make discoveries beyond the indoor play spaces.

In October 2022, preschool children examined objects collected on a woodland walk and learned vocabulary for lichen and different oak trees. Forest school, involving exploration and practical activity outdoors, also gave them opportunities to build and climb. Nature was material for both conversation and movement. These are dated examples of how the surroundings were used, rather than a timetable for today's activities.

Other October 2022 examples show learning through tasks children could take an active part in. Toddlers counted legs on pretend spiders hidden in cotton wool and measured biscuit ingredients with spoons of different sizes. Preschool children sketched plans before collaborating on a bridge in their construction play. Counting, handling materials and working with others belonged to the same activity.

Outdoor and Community Life

A large upstairs area provides climbing and sliding indoors, giving physical play a place even in poor weather. Outside, lawns and soft play areas sit alongside climbing frames, ride-on toys, sand pits and space for football. Children go outdoors daily when weather permits, and woodland walks take place regularly.

The practical appeal is the combination. The woodland supports exploration, while the indoor area gives children another setting for active play. Families whose children enjoy movement have more to weigh here than the size of a conventional garden alone.

Relationships and Communication

In October 2022, children practised small acts of independence through familiar routines: babies chose fruit at snack time, while preschool children managed their shoes and coats before outdoor play. These examples matter because care routines can also be opportunities for children to communicate preferences and do things for themselves.

Communication has a tangible home-learning element. Families can email photographs and descriptions of activities completed together for inclusion in a child's Development Journal, the record used to collect those experiences. The home activities include turn-taking, making choices about clothes and practising self-care, so contributions need not depend on elaborate projects.

In October 2022, staff also shared children's learning and next steps with parents. One example involved sending planted sunflowers home with guidance on looking after them. That linked a nursery activity with something families could continue together.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities making good progress, supported by collaboration between parents, staff, the SENDCo and outside agencies. The value lay in connecting observations of a child's needs with support from the people involved in their care.

Current collection arrangements restrict collection to adults authorised beforehand, and access to the main building is controlled by a security system. Those are practical procedures; the safeguarding judgement above belongs to October 2022.

Meals are cooked at the nursery, with a vegetarian choice and food for babies who are weaning. Lunch is included in the daily price, while breakfast and tea are included in the 8am to 6pm price, making the meal provision part of the choice between attendance patterns.

Sessions and Attendance

The Short Day runs from 9am to 4pm; All day runs from 8am to 6pm. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, with year-round attendance and a Christmas closure. These are different booking patterns, rather than simply the earliest and latest times the building opens.

For the forthcoming Christmas break, the last day is 23 December 2026 and children return on 4 January 2027. That dated calendar is useful for arranging cover around the holiday. Bank and public holidays are charged at the normal rate; the Christmas closure carries no charge.

Getting There

The address is Ottertots Day Care Nursery, Hulham Road, Exmouth, Devon EX8 5DX. Enquiries can be made on 01395 271987, by email to info@ottertots.org.uk or through the contact form.

Funding and Paid Extras

Government-funded childcare is offered for children aged nine months and for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Funding participation and the price of additional care are separate considerations: families should obtain current prices in a written quotation.

The fees page sets out advance monthly payment and a deposit to secure a booking. Older siblings receive a fee discount. Taken together, these terms mean families need to consider the payment schedule as well as the attendance pattern.

• Space for babies. In October 2022, indoor resources sometimes obstructed babies' movement. On a visit, look at how the floor is organised for crawling and early walking.
• Time to answer. The October 2022 improvement point concerned adults moving on too quickly after questions. Ask how practitioners give children time to think and respond during activities.
• Meals and funded attendance. Daily prices include lunch, and the longer day includes breakfast and tea. Ask how food charges and non-food consumables work for your proposed funded booking.

Ottertots suits families choosing between a 9am to 4pm Short Day and an 8am to 6pm All day booking, especially those who value woodland exploration alongside indoor physical play. Its own woodland, upstairs activity space and practical home-learning contributions give the choice substance.

The October 2022 Good judgement supports that picture, while the two improvement points give families specific things to examine. For parents of babies, clear movement space deserves close attention; for older children, the woodland and examples of collaborative, practical learning are the stronger draw.