East the Water Stepping Stones Pre School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Bideford for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 16:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2012, with 44 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Devon
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Devon from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
EX39 4BLWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 25 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children settle quickly into the pre-school on arrival. They enjoy choosing from the wide range of resources available. Parents comment on how welcoming the staff are. The warm relationships formed between staff and children help children to feel secure. Parents value the way that staff communicate with them about their children's learning. Together, they share information at drop-off and collection times.
Children are able to choose to play freely inside and outside. Younger children play in their own outdoor space, learning to balance as they explore spinning toys. They play alongside their friends and enjoy taking turns as they pair up on a rocking boat. Older children are curious about using magnifying glasses outside to search for insects. They play games together on a large pirate ship in the garden and practise climbing, sliding and making up imaginative games together.
Staff encourage younger children to have creative ideas as they use play dough.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- use effective strategies consistently to support all children's communication skills even further n provide more opportunities for children to develop their independence.
- 25 May 2023Good
- 28 September 2017Good
- 24 September 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for East the Water Stepping Stones Pre School
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.