Opening hours
Monday to Friday, from 7.30am until 6pm
Puffins Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Sept 2022)
Number of places
40 places
Age range
1–4 yrs
Last inspected
Sept 2022
Local authority
Devon
About this day nursery
Puffins Nursery, established in 2004, is a childcare setting located in the residential area of Heavitree, Exeter. Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 6 pm for 51 weeks of the year, it offers a warm and engaging environment where children quickly settle into self-chosen activities.
The nursery provides a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors, and staff are skilled at supporting children's play by demonstrating various techniques, such as filling beakers with sand or helping with play dough. Children enjoy painting, building with bricks, and sensory play, and readily engage in reading and singing.
The setting encourages independence, with children selecting their own resources and serving themselves at mealtimes. The focus is on fostering good relationships between children and staff, ensuring children feel safe and confident to explore their surroundings independently.
Puffins Nursery also values outdoor learning, with children enjoying local visits to the postbox, exploring nature on the green, and participating in a 'mini-explorer' programme designed for pre-schoolers to enhance their knowledge of the natural world. The nursery receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three, and four, supporting a diverse group of children from 1 to 4 years old.
Parents consistently express happiness with the education and care provided, receiving regular developmental reports and daily updates through the nursery's app, keeping them well-informed about their child's progress and experiences at Puffins Nursery.
What it's like
Staff warmly welcome all children into the nursery. Children settle quickly at their self-chosen activities. Staff support children in their play by demonstrating different skills. Children enjoy a wide range of activities through the day to support their learning and make good progress. Children behave well and are engaged in their learning.
Warm welcomeEngaging activitiesSupports independenceOutdoor explorationStrong parent communication
Key facts
Term time / All Year
All_year
Established
2004
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Puffins Nursery
Last inspected 27 September 2022
Overall effectiveness
Good
What it's like to attend
Staff warmly welcome all children into the nursery. Children settle quickly at their self-chosen activities. Staff support children in their play by demonstrating different skills. Children enjoy a wide range of activities through the day to support their learning and make good progress. Children behave well and are engaged in their learning.
Inspector highlights
- Staff warmly welcome all children into the nursery. Children settle quickly at their self-chosen activities.
- Children enjoy a wide range of activities through the day to support their learning.
- Children enjoy visits to the local area to learn more about the world beyond nursery. For example, children walk to the postbox to post letters and explore natural objects on the green nearby.
- Staff support children's independence. For example, they encourage children to select the resources that they need and serve their own food at lunchtime.
- Children form good relationships with staff and feel safe. They explore their environment with confidence.
- Staff complete effective assessments of children's learning. They know children well and identify and support the next steps in their development.
Areas to develop
- 1Monitor and coach staff to ensure effective practice is consistent, and that staff self-deploy to prevent learning opportunities being missed.
Inspection #10234898 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff and leaders are quick to identify children with possible special educational needs and/or disabilities, including speech and language delay. Staff offer these children targeted support as needed. Leaders are proactive in contacting external agencies to access further support. They use extra funding to meet children's individual needs. For example, to meet the needs of children, staff developed a sensory room while other children attended extra sessions.
Outdoor space
Children enjoy visits to the local area to learn more about the world beyond nursery. For example, children walk to the postbox to post letters and explore natural objects on the green nearby. Pre-school children also take part in a 'mini-explorer' programme. This aims to build children's knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. Outside, children confidently climb and balance on equipment.
Parent Reviews of Puffins Nursery
5.0
(14)
Gemma Fenlon
7 months ago
Myself and my partner have our son at Mont Le Grand and he absolutely loves it. He has been there now for 2 months and has settled in so well. Can't fault the girls there. Especially casey and Beth who are our sons Key workers. Also to Nia and Shannon. Always updated on pictures and what hes been up to, hes always smiling and hes always sent home with all his things. Top notch nursery and I feel super comfortable with him going here. Well done team!!
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Mick Pearce
5 months ago
My nephew loves coming to nursery at Mont Le Grand, he always has a smile on his face when he sees the baby room team (Beth, Casey and Shannon). The manager Nia has been very engaging with his parents to ensure his needs are met
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Ines Ongenda
8 months ago
Puffins Mont Le Grand is such a fantastic nursery ! We have been lucky enough to get a place at Puffin Mont Le Grand. From the very first visit with Nia, we have been impressed by their support, understanding and flexibility. Our child attends during term-time only but settling in couldn't have gone better thanks Beth who leads the baby room. Thank you to the other teams members, particularly Shannon and Casey - who even managed to get lots of lovely smiling pictures as early as day 2! I was told by many friends to expect at least 6 weeks for our son to settle in but they have worked their magic and he does really well there. Thank you also to the admin team and the senior manager (Abby) who have always been extremely responsive. It's not easy being a parent and having such fantastic childcare truly helps lessen the load. I am thrilled to have joined the Puffins family!
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Katrina Mae Lazo
7 months ago
As a parent, I am truly grateful for the care and support that Shannon Walsh has provided for my child. She is warm, patient, and attentive, and I can see how much she genuinely cares for the children. My child always feels happy, safe, and comfortable in her presence, which gives me great peace of mind.She not only supports the children’s daily needs but also encourages their learning, independence, and social skills in such a positive way. I really appreciate her kindness, reliability, and the effort she puts into making every day enjoyable for the children.
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Jo Snoalv
11 months ago
An absolutely lovely nursery which keeps our little ones safe, cared for, and engaged in a wide range of interesting activities and theme-days. We feel lucky to have found such a good setting of daycare, from baby-room to preschool, with managers and staff who we trust and who put everything into giving the children the best care. All communication has always been clear and appreciated, from the children's development to a scrape on the knee. We appreciated especially Shannon's care of our children when they were in the baby room.
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Puffins Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: July 2013
- September 2022Good
- November 2016Good
- July 2013Good
Frequently asked about Puffins Nursery
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