Freshlings Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Plymouth for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 17:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2024. Open since 2014, with 86 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 Plymouth
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Plymouth 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
PL4 8AAWhat 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, 29 November 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive at this exceptionally nurturing and inclusive nursery. The nursery ensures that the well-being of children and families is at the heart of everything they do. Staff encourage children to talk and think about their emotions. For example, babies use picture cards to say how they are feeling, and staff offer cuddles and comfort if children are sad. Older children place their name under an
'emotion monster' when they arrive to show how they are feeling that day. Staff talk to children who are not feeling positive emotions and discuss how children are feeling and why. They teach children strategies to work through emotions positively, such as doing activities they enjoy. Children settle quickly and become curious learners, who explore and play with high levels of concentration and independence. Staff praise children's creativity, building children's confidence in their choices and providing a positive experience when children are following their own learning.
Leaders and staff plan an inspirational curriculum based on children's previous learning and their knowledge of best practice. They seamlessly thread individual children's next steps into play experiences. For instance, staff explore play dough alongside toddlers. They skilfully question and interact with them and support the development of each child. They offer higher challenge to some children by introducing and explaining the concept of 'asteroids'. At the same time, they promote counting and size with younger children who are not ready for that level of learning. Each child's skills are valued through praise, and children are excited to share their knowledge with other children and staff.
- 29 November 2024Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 30 January 2019Good
- 27 April 2016Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Freshlings 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.