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Southernwood Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Nov 2023)
·
5.0(10 parent reviews)
·Greenway Road, TORQUAY, TQ2 6JE · Torbay
Number of places
36 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Nov 2023
Local authority
Torbay

About this day nursery

Southernwood Nursery, located in Torquay, Devon, offers a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 2 to 5 years old. The nursery is praised by parents for its exceptional care, dedicated staff, and engaging activities that foster a love for learning.

Many parents highlight the positive impact the nursery has on their children's development, noting improvements in politeness, thoughtfulness, curiosity, and language skills. The setting is described as having a homely feel with a large garden for outdoor exploration.

Southernwood Nursery focuses on providing a balanced approach to play and learning, ensuring children thrive at their own pace. The team, led by Pippa and Rob, is consistently commended for their approachable nature, extensive knowledge, and genuine care for each child, making the nursery a highly recommended choice for early years education.

What it's like

Children settle quickly in this friendly and welcoming nursery. Nurturing staff greet families warmly and establish any information they need to share. Children learn about the rules of the nursery, and are encouraged to be positive learners in a safe environment where they can flourish.

Supportive EnvironmentDedicated StaffEngaging ActivitiesHomely FeelOutdoor Play

Pricing & funding

This nursery offers full-day sessions running from 8.30am to 5.30pm, alongside half-day options with or without lunch. Fees are structured by age bands for unfunded children, and optional opt-in charges apply to funded places for older age groups.

Funding accepted

15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Full day sessions run from 8.30am to 5.30pm.
  • Early drop-off and late pick-up (15 or 30 minutes extra) are available on request.
  • Half day options are available with and without lunch, ranging from £29 to £40.
  • Opt-in charges are applied to funded 3 and 4-year-olds.
  • No opt-in charges are applied to funded 2-year-olds.

Key facts

Opening hours

Full day is 8.30 to 5.30. Early drop off and late pick up (15/30 minutes extra) available on request.

Age range

2 – 5 years old

Term time / All Year

All Year

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Southernwood Nursery

Last inspected 3 November 2023

Safeguarding effective
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 settle quickly in this friendly and welcoming nursery. Nurturing staff greet families warmly and establish any information they need to share. Children learn about the rules of the nursery, and are encouraged to be positive learners in a safe environment where they can flourish.

Inspector highlights

  • Children relish going to visit a care home every week, where they enjoy engaging in activities with the elderly residents.
  • Staff plan a strong range of structured adult-led group sessions to build on children's existing skills.
  • Leaders continuously develop staff's professional development to help deepen their knowledge and skills.
  • Children enjoy exploring the learning environment and independently choose where they would like to play and know how to access resources.
  • Children develop their mathematical skills well through specific one-to-one time with staff.

Areas to develop

  • 1support staff to further implement effective teaching strategies during free-play sessions to help children build on their existing knowledge and skills
  • 2consistently engage children in valuable learning experiences to support their overall development further.
Inspection #10305642 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents report that staff are 'amazing' and their children have made strong progress since starting at the nursery.

They comment on how staff support them as a whole family and that staff know their children really well.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff plan the curriculum to help children make good progress, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The special educational needs coordinator spoke to the inspector about how they support children with SEND.

Outdoor space

Children learn about sustainability and recycling, using natural materials to make bug hotels while learning about nature. The inspector observed the quality of education being provided, indoors and outdoors.

Parent Reviews of Southernwood Nursery

5.0
(10)
Fiona Bray
a year ago

When I visited Southernwood for the first time I knew it was worth changing my working pattern to secure a space - that’s how right it felt. I’m so glad I did as Southernwood is a rare find. It offers an amazing environment for children, with the best staff who are not just knowledgeable and experienced but also deeply care about the children. It offers all of this at exceptional value. Two of our children have attended Southernwood and have thrived, making great friends and growing in confidence as they prepared for school. They both learned so much whilst having a lot of fun along the way, and have made friendships which will last beyond nursery. Pippa has created something very special here and I could not recommend it more highly.

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Rebecca McCabe
a year ago

If I could give more than 5 stars I would. What can I say other than if you get a chance to send your child here do so! Pippa and Rob have created an amazing environment and team where each child can thrive at their own unique pace. The staff are amazing and will go above and beyond. We are sad to be leaving nursery but I know that everyone at Southernwood has helped Eva develop the skills to jump into big school with both feet. I will be forever grateful for making Eva and us feel part of a big family. Thank you

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Graham Milne
a year ago

Thank you so much to Pippa and all her staff for helping both our children develop and provide the best start to their early education. Your help with our daughter Winter a few years back was so important, identifying she was a bit behind with her learning. Although she is still working towards her targets, I am sure without your devotion to the children you care for, her development would have been far slower. We cannot thank you enough for this. Will genuinely miss collecting my children and hearing what they have been up to when Hunter goes to school next Month. The best nursery in the bay in my opinion and everyone I speak to feels the same. From the bottom of my heart and my children thank you so much.

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Tanesha Watson
a year ago

A massive thank you to Pippa and her team for giving both our children the best start in life .. picking southerwood was easy for us, as we had heard such amazing things from everyone. I am lucky enough that both my children attended southerwood, and so grateful for the kindness and love they have poured into them both. They have helped us with our daughter who was abit behind in her learning, (covid has a lot to answer for) and that has helped us ensure we have every source of help in place to help her in school. She has come on leaps and bounds and working towards all of her goals, and with our son they embraced his love for Lego always setting up for the day he was in with a tray of Lego waiting for him. He is excelling in every aspect of learning. And we couldn’t me more proud not just him but our daughter too! Pippa and her team are the most dedicated professionals you would ever hope to meet. ALL of them are so friendly, so kind, all of them know your child and always have something nice to say. And you know it’s genuine. I’m sad that nursery life is over for us. But excited for the next part as both my children have made friends for life, and are fortunate enough to move up to reception with their friends from nursery 🤍 Thank you so much . Forever grateful for what have you done for both of our children. If anyone is considering southerwood. I always tell them without a doubt it’s the best nursery. I couldn’t have asked for better 🤍

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Paul Fenlon
4 years ago

Exceptional nursery. Southernwood was highly recommended to us by friends. Both our children spent 2 years each at Southernwood, consecutively over a four year period. Pippa and her team were highly professional throughout, whilst maintaining a genuinely caring approach with daily feedback. Couldn't fault throughout to be honest. Thank you to all.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Southernwood Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: April 2014

  • November 2023Good
  • February 2018Outstanding
  • April 2014Good

Frequently asked about Southernwood Nursery

About the setting

Southernwood Nursery registered in 2013 and is located in Torquay, Devon. The nursery is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 5.30pm, for most of the year. It receives free early education funding for children aged two, three and four years old. There are 15 members of staff working directly with the children, all of whom hold relevant childcare qualifications from level 6 to level 2.

URN
EY468344
Registered person
Southernwood Nursery Ltd
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises
Previous rating
Outstanding

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