Little Stars Nursery

Small-scale care and practical, playful learning characterised Little Stars Nursery in Exeter in May 2026. It has capacity for 18 children. At its May 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged achievement, behaviour and routines, welfare and wellbeing, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, and leadership and governance to be Strong standard, with safeguarding standards met and excellent progress including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

In May 2026, leaders were deliberately expanding slowly to preserve a family-style atmosphere. The children attending were aged 1 to 4. That small-setting approach is a useful starting point for families who value familiar relationships.

The early years foundation stage sets requirements for children's learning, development and care: play, communication and everyday routines all contribute to learning. In May 2026, activities connected these strands through pretend occupations. Children explored doctors' equipment, matched shapes while playing postal workers and used spray bottles to put out chalk flames. These experiences gave language and hand control a practical purpose.

Books were part of the same pattern. In May 2026, babies explored board books independently, while stories introduced older children to new vocabulary. Staff pronounced stethoscope slowly during a doctor-themed story, linking an unfamiliar word to an object children could examine.

Outside, the May 2026 daily routine included fresh air, trikes and a slide. Babies repeatedly climbed the slide steps, practising coordination and balance. Leaders were also making further development of the outdoor space a priority, so the outdoor offer was an area of continuing work.

At the May 2026 inspection, Ofsted found responsive key-person relationships, established sleep routines for babies and effective adaptation of teaching for children needing extra support. The practical examples matter: staff helped quieter children join conversations and adjusted story-time positioning so babies could participate while sitting or standing.

In May 2026, staff acknowledged children's frustration and anxiety, offering comfort when a child was unusually quiet. Familiar sequences helped babies anticipate lunch and sleep. Those routines gave the day a recognisable shape.

Mealtimes brought different ages together in May 2026, with staff sitting alongside children, talking and supervising eating. Children practised feeding themselves and opening food containers with help when needed.

Communication extended beyond the nursery day. In May 2026, staff shared approaches to sleep and toilet training with parents, and leaders used family feedback and staff discussions to shape improvements. This connected nursery routines with care at home.

Little Stars Nursery's address is St. Thomas Methodist Church, 110-111 Cowick Street, Exeter, EX4 1JE. Its capacity is 18 children in total.

In May 2026, opening hours were Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. These describe the opening window at that time, rather than a particular session or booking pattern.

• Outdoor development. In May 2026, leaders were prioritising improvements to the outdoor environment. Families who place outdoor play high on their list should weigh that May 2026 development priority alongside the slide, trikes and daily outdoor activity observed then.
• Support beyond the basics. The May 2026 next step was to build further on work removing barriers for children needing extra help. For families with additional support needs, this is an important development priority alongside the positive inclusion judgement.
• Attendance fit. The May 2026 opening window was 8am to 5pm on weekdays. Which booking patterns can accommodate your family's routine now?

Little Stars suits families drawn to a small setting, familiar carers and learning rooted in play and everyday independence. The May 2026 picture combines practical language activities with attentive routines. Outdoor development and the further strengthening of additional support were priorities identified in May 2026, to weigh alongside those strengths.