Opening hours
8 am – 5 pm all year, closing for Christmas and bank holidays
Pathways Day Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2023)
Number of places
16 places
Age range
2–5 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2023
Local authority
Plymouth
About this day nursery
Pathways Day Nursery, a well-regarded private nursery in Plymouth, has been providing childcare since 1989. Since 2001, it has been managed by a dedicated team of staff.
Located in Peverell, near Central Park, the nursery operates from 8 am to 5 pm all year, closing only for Christmas and bank holidays. It caters to children aged 18 months to five years, with a maximum of 18 children per session, fostering a relaxed and homely atmosphere to ensure a smooth transition from home to nursery.
The nursery prides itself on its consistent and qualified staff, many of whom are parents themselves, offering a compassionate approach to childcare. Each child is assigned a key person to help them feel secure and settled.
Pathways Day Nursery emphasises a play-based learning approach, supporting children's natural curiosity and independence while following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This framework focuses on 7 areas of learning, starting with prime areas like personal, social, and emotional development, communication and language, and physical development, before moving on to specific areas such as mathematics, literacy, understanding of the world, and expressive art and design.
The team plans engaging and educational experiences, taking into account each child's interests and developmental stage.
Our ethos
Pathways Day Nursery emphasises a play-based learning approach, supporting children's natural curiosity and independence while following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. They plan engaging and educational experiences, taking into account each child's interests and developmental stage.
What it's like
Children enter the nursery excitedly and are warmly greeted by friendly staff who encourage independence. Highly positive relationships are formed, making children feel safe and nurtured. Staff implement a good range of educational programmes, including activities that support children's understanding of emotions.
Established in 1989Play-based learningExperienced and qualified staffHomely and relaxed environment
Pricing & funding
The nursery offers free funded entitlements with no additional mandatory charges, using standard or stretched hours. Additional hours beyond the funded allocation are charged at an hourly rate, and there is a voluntary weekly consumable charge.
Funding accepted
15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- Free entitlement offered with no additional mandatory charges.
- Standard funding is offered as 15 or 30 hours per week.
- Stretched funding is offered as 12 or 24 hours per week.
- Additional hours on top of funding are billed at an hourly rate.
Key facts
Age range
18 months - 5 years
Term time / All Year
All Year
Established
1989
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Pathways Day Nursery
Last inspected 29 November 2023
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children enter the nursery excitedly and are warmly greeted by friendly staff who encourage independence. Highly positive relationships are formed, making children feel safe and nurtured. Staff implement a good range of educational programmes, including activities that support children's understanding of emotions.
Inspector highlights
- Staff plan free-play activities very well to capture children's interests and build on their experiences, creating imaginative role-play areas.
- Children enjoy mathematical games to enhance their understanding of patterns, numbers, and counting.
- Children develop a great love of books, and staff encourage them to retell stories independently, using props to enhance well-loved tales.
- Staff attend frequent training and use this to benefit children, teaching key nouns and verbs to support communication skills.
- Staff ensure children who need extra support receive early intervention, working closely with other professionals and using effective strategies.
Areas to develop
- 1plan and adapt adult-led activities around children's individual learning needs to enhance their development further and to ensure they remain fully focused
- 2tailor home learning more precisely around each child to provide a consistent two-way approach to learning.
Inspection #10311740 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents comment on the strong progress their child has made since starting in the nursery. They talk about how their communication and language skills have greatly improved and about the supportive staff, who are always there for them as a family.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff ensure children who need extra support receive early intervention. They work closely with other professionals, developing effective strategies to support children's development. For instance, staff use visual aids and distraction techniques to support children who find sharing difficult.
Outdoor space
When children climb on gym equipment in the outdoor area, other children stand near their peers saying, 'I've got you.' 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: April 2011
- November 2023Good
- April 2018Good
- July 2014Good
- January 2014Inadequate
- April 2011Good
Frequently asked about Pathways Day 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