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First Steps NHS Nursery

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Aug 2025)
·Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW · Devon
Number of places
129 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Aug 2025
Local authority
Devon

About this day nursery

First Steps NHS Nursery is in Exeter and provides care for children from birth to four years old. It is open from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, all year round. Ofsted inspected the day nursery in August 2025 and judged its overall effectiveness to be Outstanding.

The inspector's report highlighted the ambitious curriculum and the high quality of staff interactions with children. Staff provide an exceptional level of personalised support and care, particularly for children with complex medical and learning needs, working in partnership with other professionals. The environment is inclusive and celebrates diversity. Children play together in outdoor areas, developing friendships and demonstrating concentration during activities. They are also encouraged to develop independence, for example by washing their own plates after lunch.

What it's like

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this exceptional nursery, developing close friendships and engaging in stimulating experiences provided by staff. They delight in playing together in exciting outdoor areas, demonstrating excellent collaborative work and concentration during activities like messy play. Staff establish an enabling environment, supporting children's understanding and problem-solving skills from a young age.

Pricing & funding

Pricing on request

This nursery doesn't publish its fees online. Contact them directly for an up-to-date price list and availability.

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Key facts

Opening hours

7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for First Steps NHS Nursery

Last inspected 7 August 2025 · Leanne Edge

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this exceptional nursery, developing close friendships and engaging in stimulating experiences provided by staff. They delight in playing together in exciting outdoor areas, demonstrating excellent collaborative work and concentration during activities like messy play. Staff establish an enabling environment, supporting children's understanding and problem-solving skills from a young age.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders are passionate about providing children with the best possible outcomes as part of a highly ambitious curriculum.
  • Staff's interactions with children are consistently of a high quality, with a highly successful programme of monitoring staff's practice.
  • Staff provide children with an exceptional level of personalised support and care, particularly for those with complex medical and learning needs.
  • Staff provide a highly inclusive environment, celebrating diversity and supporting children in learning about people and communities beyond their own.
  • Children demonstrate an excellent level of independent skills for their age, such as washing their own plates after lunch.
Inspection #10414849 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak very highly of nursery staff. They report how staff 'embrace' their child's needs and allow them to come on in 'leaps and bounds'.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with complex medical and learning needs are incredibly well supported by staff. For example, they provide individualised learning packs for children who are absent from the nursery for extended periods due to medical needs. Staff work in partnership with a vast number of other professionals to ensure children get the right care for them at the right time.

Outdoor space

Children develop close friendships and have great fun playing together in the exciting outdoor areas. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact that this was having on children's learning.

Inspection history

Date: February 2011

  • August 2025Outstanding
  • November 2022Outstanding
  • January 2017Outstanding
  • March 2014Good
  • November 2013Good
  • February 2011Outstanding

Frequently asked about First Steps NHS Nursery

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more