Muddy Boots at the Farm

A safari tent for preschool children, a converted barn for babies and two large gardens give Muddy Boots at the Farm a clear outdoor identity. Based at Quickes Farm in Newton St. Cyres, near Exeter, it has capacity for 20 children aged six months to five years. The setting's character comes from the spaces children use: nature, creative play and outdoor challenges shape the day.

At its January 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged behaviour, attitudes and routines to be a strong standard, the other assessed areas to meet the expected standard, and safeguarding standards to be met. That is a report card with separate judgements, rather than an overall grade. The outdoor offer is the clearest reason to consider this nursery, alongside an approach that lets children's interests influence their activities.

Rooms and Ages

The Nest accommodates babies in a converted barn, with garden access, soft play mats, mobiles and sitting supports that give early movement and exploration a practical setting. Feeding and sleeping follow each baby's familiar routine. That continuity matters for families balancing nursery care with established patterns at home.

For toddlers, The Atelier sits beside The Nest and combines drawing, paint, printing and playdough with materials gathered around the setting. Creative work draws on the surroundings rather than relying solely on bought resources.

The Academy, for children aged three to five, occupies a safari tent and makes substantial use of the Paddock, with children contributing ideas for their activities and practitioners adding learning opportunities. The physical arrangement makes outdoor learning central to the preschool experience rather than an occasional change of scene.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the framework for children's learning, development and care. In January 2026, this meant building communication through naming farm animals, physical skills through outdoor movement, and social skills through sharing and taking turns. The outdoor emphasis sits alongside that framework. It does not replace it.

In January 2026, babies practised identifying farm animals and explored what happened when they activated a toy tractor. Older children used dinosaur vocabulary in imaginative play, distinguishing plant-eating animals from meat-eating ones. These examples connect language with things children are actively doing, giving new words a purpose beyond repetition.

Spanish also featured in preschool activities in January 2026. Children used it to greet friends and express whether they felt tired, sad or happy. This was language attached to familiar social situations, rather than an isolated exercise.

Outdoor and Community Life

Two large gardens are complemented by an outdoor education area used for den-making, tree climbing, nature investigations and campfire activities, including toasting marshmallows. Those experiences offer different kinds of physical challenge and practical exploration within the nursery's grounds.

The Atelier's outdoor experience includes puddle play and stories beneath a shelter when it rains. Weather is part of the experience. In January 2026, daily outdoor activity also included ride-on equipment and balance courses, giving children opportunities to practise coordination through movement.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2026, family handovers covered children's care, while staff used information about their backgrounds, interests and needs when they joined. Children turned to familiar adults for help, and key-person relationships were part of daily life. For a parent, these are concrete points of continuity between home and nursery.

Mealtimes also offered space for conversation in January 2026, with adults sitting alongside children while they ate. In play, practitioners talked through what children were doing and repeated unfamiliar words. Communication ran through ordinary routines as well as planned activities.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that staff worked with parents to address barriers to learning and sought specialist SEND advice, but the effect of support strategies varied, teaching was not consistently adapted for every child, and staff with oversight duties needed more support to manage their responsibilities. These are material qualifications to the positive account of relationships and routines: individual support needs close attention, rather than a general assurance.

In January 2026, staff physically checked sleeping babies regularly, while toddlers received prompts to recognise toileting and nose-wiping needs. Care included both adult monitoring and encouragement towards self-care. For the youngest children, the current commitment to familiar feeding and sleep routines gives parents a practical starting point for discussing continuity.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and between Christmas and New Year. Families therefore need to account for those closures when arranging care around work.

The address is Quickes Farm, Newton St. Cyres, Exeter, EX5 5AY; the nursery's premises are also named The Piggery. On-site parking is provided. The rural setting and outdoor spaces are central to the offer, so the location deserves consideration alongside the working-day opening window.

Funding and Paid Extras

Current prices should be obtained in a written quotation from the nursery. The quotation should be considered alongside the proposed attendance arrangement, rather than treating opening hours as the booking pattern.

Fresha is the Farm's catering partner, supplying menus made from scratch using quality produce. The food arrangement gives families a named provider to discuss alongside their child's care requirements.

• Outdoor expectations. The Atelier uses outdoor space in wet weather, while The Academy spends much of its time in the Paddock. During a visit, discuss clothing, shelter and how the outdoor routine works for your child.
• Starting age. The nursery accepts children from six months, while The Nest's room description spans four to eighteen months. Use the six-month starting age when planning care, and discuss your baby's feeding and sleep routine during a visit.
• Individual teaching and oversight. The January 2026 findings identified uneven adaptation of teaching and a need to support staff managing oversight responsibilities. Ask how those changes are being put into practice, especially if your child needs targeted support.
• The written booking proposal. The 8am to 6pm opening window needs to fit your family's actual arrangement. What attendance patterns and funded-hour options can your quotation cover, and how does it treat meals, consumables and other charges?

Muddy Boots at the Farm suits families seeking an outdoor-led nursery with a rural setting, garden access for babies and a safari-tent base for preschool children. The Nest, The Atelier and The Academy give that approach a concrete shape, rather than leaving it as a general promise about nature.

The January 2026 strengths in behaviour and routines sit alongside specific work needed on adapting teaching and supporting oversight. For families whose children enjoy outdoor exploration, this is a setting with a clear identity; the specific support arrangements for your child and written attendance proposal deserve equal weight in the decision.