Childcare in Exeter
Exeter has 44 day nurseries, 11 pre-schools, 41 school nursery classes, 13 childminders and 28 after-school clubs. Ofsted has inspected 53 of them and rated 48 Good or better, 9 of them Outstanding. 85 have never been inspected, which usually means recently registered. Across Devon there are 29 places per 100 children under five, worse supplied than England as a whole at 32.
Places per 100 under-fives is registered capacity at nurseries, pre-schools and childminders across Devon, divided by the children aged 0 to 4 who live there at the 2021 Census. It compares areas; it is not a count of free places today. It also leaves out the 184 school nursery classes across Devon, because nobody publishes how many children they take.
What has changed here
Ofsted does not publish closures, so we work them out by comparing releases. Worth knowing if you are working from an old list.
- Jun 2026Opened The Nursery at Newbery House Full day care
- Jun 2026Opened Jurassic Childcare (Exminster) Full day care
- Jun 2026Opened FISH @ Matford Brook Out-of-school day care
- Jun 2026Opened Puffins Holiday Club Out-of-school day care
- Jun 2026Closed Thorverton Pre-School Sessional day care
- Jun 2026Closed Sporty Stars - Clyst Heath Primary School Sessional day care
- Dec 2025Closed Heavitree Community Preschool Sessional day care
- Dec 2025Closed Puffins in the City Full day care
- Dec 2025Closed Premier Wraparound Care at Woodbury School Out-of-school day care
- Dec 2025Closed St Leonards Preschool Sessional day care
- Dec 2025Opened Primary Sports & Education Limited Out-of-school day care
- Dec 2025Opened Premier Wraparound @ Stoke Canon Out-of-school day care
What people ask about childcare in Exeter
Answered from the figures on this page, so they stay in step with it.
Which nurseries in Exeter take funded hours?
50 of the 138 settings in Exeter are recorded as taking the government funded hours. Councils do not publish a list of approved providers, so the rest are unknown rather than a no.
Are any nurseries in Exeter rated Outstanding?
Yes. 9 of the 53 settings Ofsted has inspected in Exeter hold an Outstanding grade.
Which nurseries in Exeter take babies?
83 settings in Exeter are registered to take children under two. Ofsted's register does not say whether a setting runs a baby room or has space in it, so ring before you plan around it.
Is it hard to get a nursery place in Exeter?
Devon has 29 registered childcare places for every 100 children under five, against 32 across England. That is registered capacity rather than free places, so it compares areas rather than telling you what is available this week.
Towns close to Exeter
Worth widening the search to, especially if you drive to work.