First Steps NHS Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Exeter for children from birth to 8+, open 07:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in August 2025. Open since 2010, with 105 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
EX2 5DWWhat 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, 7 August 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thoroughly enjoy their time at this exceptional nursery. They arrive eagerly and keen to take part in the stimulating experiences that the staff provide for them. Children develop close friendships and have great fun playing together in the exciting outdoor areas. They delight as they make up games and demonstrate excellent collaborative work. For instance, they use equipment to create see-saws, taking turns to push each other and making up songs as they play. Children spontaneously exclaim, 'This is the best day of my life.'
Staff have established an enabling environment that helps to ensure children are actively engaged in learning. Babies practise balancing and climbing with the support of staff. They demonstrate warm, trusting bonds with staff, who skilfully extend their understanding, such as by helping them to count their steps as they hold their hands. Children sustain high levels of concentration. For instance, they delight in exploring different textures as part of messy play activities. They focus deeply for extended periods as they make 'dinner' by carefully mixing shaving foam and oats. Children listen attentively to staff as they play together and quickly incorporate new words into their talk, such as 'watermelon', 'smoothie' and 'scoop'.
Leaders ensure staff work incredibly well together and have very high expectations of what children can do for themselves, even from a very young age. They support children to demonstrate excellent problem-solving skills. For example, children confidently estimate the length of card needed to make a pirate hat. Children select the materials they need and show accurate skills using scissors to independently construct it. Staff regularly praise children to build their self-esteem and are mindful of their feelings. Children demonstrate exemplary behaviour and attitudes to learning.
- 7 August 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 1 November 2022Outstanding
- 9 January 2017Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for First Steps NHS Nursery
- 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.