Jays Day Nursery, Pre-School and Outdoor Learning

Term Time Forest School, an approach built around learning outdoors, runs several times a week for toddlers and preschool children. Based at Moorhaven, near Ivybridge, the nursery accepts children from three months to school age and has 61 places in total.

At its April 2026 inspection, Ofsted judged children's welfare and wellbeing to be at a strong standard, the other five areas to meet the expected standard, and safeguarding standards to be met. That is a report card with separate judgements, rather than a single overall grade. Relationships were a strength; consistent teaching and smoother routines were the main areas requiring work.

Families can choose attendance throughout the year or during term time only. That distinction matters here because the regular Forest School programme itself runs in term time.

Rooms and Ages

Babies caters for children aged 3–24 months, Toddlers for 24–36 months and Pre-Schoolers for 36 months to school age; each group has its own dedicated room and room leader.

In April 2026, moves between rooms took account of children's confidence, emotional readiness and developing independence. Learning about a child's starting point began during settling, so the transition into nursery and subsequent room changes were connected to an understanding of that child.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides the learning framework: activities support children's development through play, communication and social experiences. Forest School adds hands-on learning outdoors, with the term-time programme running several times per week, mornings for toddlers and afternoons for preschool children.

In April 2026, outdoor learning developed in stages, helping children become more confident in natural surroundings, experience different weather and learn about keeping themselves safe. Preparation mattered as well as participation: staff introduced expectations before more demanding experiences such as forest outings. For a parent choosing Jays for its outdoor offer, this combination of repeated experience and preparation is more useful than an occasional outdoor activity.

Books and conversation also had a place in the April 2026 day. Staff used stories to extend vocabulary, while preschool children held conversations with one another over meals. Younger children practised using their peers' names and turning to them during play. These are concrete ways of connecting language with friendship and everyday interaction.

Outdoor and Community Life

Beach School is another activity within the offer. Forest School has the clearer attendance structure, so families weighing outdoor learning against their weekly schedule should pay attention to which age group attends in the morning or afternoon.

In April 2026, children chose resources independently and joined small-group activities. Outdoor experiences sat alongside independent resource selection and small-group activities. The practical appeal is a day with opportunities for exploration, conversation and physical activity.

Relationships and Communication

In April 2026, the key-person arrangement gave children a familiar adult for comfort and reassurance, especially while settling. Staff gathered information about home life and discussed children's starting points with parents. That connected care at nursery with the circumstances and routines children brought from home.

Emotions were part of everyday conversations in April 2026. Adults helped children manage feelings, make choices and develop self-care skills; they also coached parents through separation at the start of sessions. This makes the relationship with the key person a central consideration for a child who needs time to become comfortable away from family.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the April 2026 inspection, Ofsted found that individual support helped children make progress, but SEND strategies were applied unevenly across staff, interactions with the youngest children and those developing language needed greater consistency, and some routines left children waiting too long. These concerns qualify the positive picture of responsive care. Warm relationships and effective teaching are related, but parents should weigh both.

In April 2026, staff discussed developmental concerns sensitively with families and helped them access external services. Support followed an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Additional funding was used for learning experiences, access to forest school, extra adults supporting communication and smaller groups.

Daily wellbeing messages in April 2026 linked food choices, physical activity, outdoor access and emotions. Room transitions also contributed to preparation for school by developing confidence and independence. This was preparation through everyday skills rather than a claim to any school admissions advantage.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is The Jays Day Care Nursery, The Pavilion, Moorhaven, Ivybridge, PL21 0TZ. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing on bank holidays, and offers both year-round and term-time-only attendance.

The term-time Forest School timetable distinguishes between age groups: toddlers attend in the morning and preschool children in the afternoon. That matters when considering how an attendance pattern would include the outdoor programme.

Enquiries can be made through the contact form, by telephone on 01752 894437 or by email at contact@thejaysnursery.com. The form collects the child's date of birth, approximate start date and preferred days, allowing a family to set out its proposed arrangement at the outset.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded hours are offered to eligible two-, three- and four-year-olds. For eligible three- and four-year-olds, the extended entitlement is offered as 30 hours per week or 1140 hours across the year. These are conditional entitlements, so the funded offer should be considered alongside the family's eligibility and intended attendance.

Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation. The decision is the complete arrangement: the attendance pattern, how funded hours fit within it and any additional costs attached to the chosen provision.

• Teaching consistency. The April 2026 concerns covered SEND strategies, early language interactions and waiting during routines. Ask how staff now put individual support plans into practice and keep children involved between activities.
• Outdoor attendance. Term-time Forest School runs several times weekly, with toddler mornings and preschool afternoons. Families choosing term-time-only or year-round attendance should weigh how their chosen days align with that programme.
• The complete booking arrangement. When visiting, ask what Beach School involves and request a written quotation setting out session times, funded-hour delivery, meals, consumables and activity charges for your proposed pattern.

Jays suits families seeking either year-round attendance or term-time-only care, especially those who want repeated outdoor learning. Forest School gives that preference a concrete timetable. The April 2026 picture also calls for a careful conversation about SEND support, language teaching and daily transitions: these are the areas to weigh alongside the strength of children's relationships with staff.