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Venture Hope Cove

Ofsted: Outstanding
(Jun 2025)
·
5.0(7 Google reviews)
·SW Coast path, Hope Cove, Kingsbridge, TQ7 3HR · Devon
Number of places
18 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jun 2025
Local authority
Devon

About this day nursery

Venture Hope Cove is an outdoor kindergarten situated in Kingsbridge, offering a unique educational experience centred around nature. 5 to 5 years, the day nursery emphasises learning through exploration and interaction with the natural environment, firmly believing that children thrive when immersed in the outdoors.

They provide varied session times across their three locations: Kitley Farm, Dartington, and Hope Cove. The approach ensures children spend their days actively learning and playing outside, fostering a deep connection with nature regardless of the weather.

The curriculum is designed to be engaging, encouraging curiosity, resilience, and a love for the outdoors. Venture Hope Cove is dedicated to providing high-quality outdoor education, staffed by qualified teachers and Forest and Beach School practitioners, and maintains excellent adult-to-child ratios.

The setting welcomes government-funded places and strives to make its provision accessible to families in the South Hams area, offering a truly immersive external learning environment.

Our ethos

Venture Outdoor Kindergarten is registered with Devon County Council to offer the Early Years Funding to 3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds. As per government and Devon County Council guidelines Venture Outdoor Kindergarten charges for additional services that are beyond the standard day-care nursery or preschool provision. This voluntary and vital Outdoor Resource Fund payment enables us to provide high quality outdoor education for our children. Primarily this fund enables us to maintain high adult to child ratios, employ a high proportion of qualified teachers as staff, employ qualified Forest and Beach School practitioners and pay for our licence to operate on National Trust land.

What it's like

Highly qualified staff create a nurturing environment where children thrive, showing exceptional concentration and collaboration. The curriculum is ambitious, teaching children to care for themselves, others, and their environment. Staff foster close bonds, model respect, and help children develop independence and problem-solving skills.

Outdoor KindergartenForest SchoolBeach SchoolNature-based LearningFunded Places Accepted

Pricing & funding

Charges are based on government-funded places for children aged 2.5 to 5 years. A voluntary hourly contribution is requested for funded hours to support outdoor education provisions. Parents can split funding with other providers if they have leftover hours.

Funding accepted

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

Good to know

  • Offers government-funded places for children aged 2.5 to 5 years.
  • Requests a voluntary hourly contribution (Outdoor Resource Fund) for funded hours.
  • Allows parents to split Early Years Funding with another provider using leftover hours.

Key facts

Opening hours

Monday - Thursday: 09:00 - 15:00

Age range

2.5 to 5 years

Term time / All Year

Term Time

Session types

Daily

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Venture Hope Cove

Last inspected 19 June 2025

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding

What it's like to attend

Highly qualified staff create a nurturing environment where children thrive, showing exceptional concentration and collaboration. The curriculum is ambitious, teaching children to care for themselves, others, and their environment. Staff foster close bonds, model respect, and help children develop independence and problem-solving skills.

Inspector highlights

  • Children enjoy an extensive range of learning activities, including adventures in woodlands, beaches, and the village.
  • Staff are exceptional role models, promoting calm and respectful interactions among children.
  • Leaders and managers are passionate, constantly reflecting on practice and ensuring high-quality care.
  • Staff support children to persevere and enjoy learning from others, building high levels of pride.
  • The environment created by staff supports all children to acquire and use language, blossoming into skilled communicators.
Inspection #10398688 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

The special educational needs coordinator supports children and monitors needs for early help. Children's needs are discussed daily and support for every child is tailored to meet their next steps in learning. There is a cohesive approach to providing children with targeted support so they can make rapid progress.

Outdoor space

Every day is a new adventure in the woodland, on the beaches, in the village and in the setting's garden. These rich and varied experiences help develop children's understanding of the community in which they live. Children show physical skills that far exceed that expected for their age and navigate challenging terrain with resilience and success.

Google Reviews of Venture Hope Cove

5.0
(7 Google reviews)
Kim Brodie
a year ago

I cannot recommend Venture enough. It is the most nurturing environment. The staff show so much care, respect and dedication to every individual child. The approach that Venture takes creates such a calm environment for children to grow and learn. My daughter has grown in confidence and I have also learnt so much from observing how things work at Venture, it is helping me to parent better at home. Venture offers such a unique opportunity for children to be surrounded in nature and to learn vital skills that I have not seen in any other setting.

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Julia Latham
a year ago

Venture has been transformative for our son. We knew he would love it because our daughter did too (she attended until 2020 when she started primary school). Our son has struggled with some childcare settings but he took to Venture like a duck to water and looks forward to Venture every week. His bond with his key worker is clear to see, and we have loved watching him flourish. No other setting that we know of offers such a nurturing environment that fosters independence, curiosity, friendship and resilience. Everyone who works there is really lovely, it is such a unique and special setting and we couldn’t recommend it more!

Read on Google
Lynne Tarrab-Snooks
a year ago

I was one of the parents who nominated Venture Kitley (& Hope Cove) for the Pearson Early Years Teaching Awards 2024. Having many years experience both in and in support of schools and provision for children, I was impressed by their vision, their high quality teams, their creative use of all things elemental and their capacity to support children to grow into confident, skilled, lovers of creative play in natural surroundings. The team includes members with a wealth of knowledge and energy. Their inclusion practices are excellent, their support of children with Special Educational and or Disability Needs is heartfelt and joyous and their educative practice is exemplary. They won a Silver Award for their practice and are still in the running for this year’s Gold Award ( decision Gala night 30th November to be televised). We are all very lucky to have such inspirational practice available in our rural locations. If you are thinking of sending your child there, do go to visit. You won’t regret it! Jenny, Zoe, Laura ( in fact all the Lauras) are wonderful. And now our son, with their support, has successfully integrated into his local school, confident, skilled, socially equipped and eager to learn. And he loves being out in all weathers! Let’s celebrate and support them. Their vision builds the children our planet needs.

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Devon Football Media
a year ago

My son has been at their setting in Yealmpton for the last year, he is more confident, outgoing and excited to go everyday ! Picking him up at the end of the day caked in mud head to tow really remind me whats import for children growing up. Thank you Venture !

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Tim S
7 years ago

Just an amazing opportunity for children to learn in the most natural environment before entering the school system. Jenny and Zoe make every day an adventure and our son loves it.

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Venture Hope Cove. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: November 2019

  • June 2025Outstanding
  • November 2019Outstanding

Frequently asked about Venture Hope Cove

About the setting

Venture Hope Cove registered in 2017 and opens from 9am to 3pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, during term times. The kindergarten is based at the Reading Rooms in Hope Cove, from which they explore the local woodlands, beaches and outdoor spaces. There are five members of staff, all of whom have academic degrees and two of whom hold qualified teacher status. All staff have substantial previous experience of outdoor provision.

URN
EY555908
Registered person
Venture Outdoor Kindergarten Partnership
Day care type
Full day care
Register
Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register
Establishment type
Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Other Ofsted-registered day nurseries close to Venture Hope Cove.

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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