Little Ones Childcare, with multiple locations including Budlake near Exeter, aims to provide a nurturing environment where each child truly matters. The nursery sets itself apart by including essential items like nappies, wipes, lotions, and all meals free of charge for children under three.
Food is freshly prepared on-site by dedicated cooks who prioritise healthy, varied, and family-style meals, encouraging children to explore different tastes and textures in a communal dining setting. The approach fosters independence and social interaction.
They pride themselves on being small nurseries, enabling closer relationships between staff, children, and parents, often feeling like an extended family. Flexible settling-in programmes are tailored to each child's needs, and managers are actively involved in the rooms, building strong connections.
The nursery doesn't charge for bank holidays or the Christmas closure week and offers an open-door policy for parents. Their curriculum is child-led and interest-based, supported by highly trained staff who excel at teaching through play, believing that a playful approach is fundamental to learning.
They maintain a paper-based record system for each child's achievements, valuing the tangible keepsake it provides.
Our ethos
We create invitations to play each day—setting up exciting areas and activities and allowing the children to take the lead in where they go. Our staff are highly trained and experienced in spotting learning opportunities and are experts at teaching through play—our motto is Learn To Play… Play To Learn and we do firmly believe that children need to play to learn. We are a very hands-on nursery with love, cuddles, and affection in abundance. Our staff are highly qualified, all have a paediatric first aid qualification and all have food hygiene.
What it's like
Children are happy and settled in this nurturing nursery. They separate well from their parents and receive a warm welcome from the caring staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. They enjoy using the varied range of accessible resources and getting involved in activities.
Fees are all-inclusive of meals, snacks, nappies, and toiletries for non-funded children. Three and four-year-olds claiming funding are subject to a voluntary daily consumables charge. No fees are charged for bank holidays or the Christmas closure week. Discounts are available for holidays and siblings.
Good to know
Food
All meals, snacks, and drinks (and baby milk where appropriate) are included in the fees for children not claiming 3 and 4 year old funding. These meals are cooked on-site and are traditional family meals. For funded children, a small consumables charge applies.
Opening hours
07:45 - 18:00
Age range
0-5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Session types
full day, half day, half day with lunch
Last inspected 23 August 2022
What it's like to attend
Children are happy and settled in this nurturing nursery. They separate well from their parents and receive a warm welcome from the caring staff, which helps them to feel safe and secure. They enjoy using the varied range of accessible resources and getting involved in activities.
Inspector highlights
Areas to develop
Inclusion & environment
Staff provide high levels of support for children that need additional help. They put tailored planning in place to focus on any gaps in children's learning to help them catch up. Where children still need extra help, the special educational needs coordinator works closely with parents and other agencies to ensure that the right support is put in place to help children achieve their potential.
Staff value children's opinions. They ask for a show of hands so that children can decide which outdoor area they would like to use. Children enjoy regular exercise as they use ride-in cars and play on climbing apparatus.
I can't recommend Little Ones enough! My son has additional needs and had been in 3 different nurseries before finding Little Ones. From the first day, they put in place different strategies to help my son. He went from barely speaking and lots of built up frustration to making friends, participating, learning and communicating. In under a year, the difference I have seen in my son has been astounding, he has progressed so much because of the encouraging, nurturing setting Little Ones has cultivated. I cant express how much appreciation I have for the wonderful team at Budlake. We are going to miss you so much. Thank you for everything! The only regret I have is not finding Little Ones sooner!
Read on Google
Good childcare nursery with trained and friendly staff.. Kids find it lovely
Read on Google
Reviews from Google for Little Ones - Budlake. See all on Google Maps
Date: October 2009
Little Ones registered in 2002. It is located in Budlake, near Exeter in Devon. The nursery is open each weekday, from 7.45am to 6pm, all year round, except for one week at Christmas. There are seven members of staff working with children. Of these, two hold relevant degrees, one has a qualification at level 3 and two hold qualifications at level 2. The nursery receives funding to provide free early education for children aged two, three and four years.
Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Little Ones - Budlake.
Broadclyst · EX5 3JA
Exeter · EX5 3EE
Exeter · EX5 3AS
Exeter · EX4 8JU
Exeter · EX5 2TS
Exeter · EX4 8LD
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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
