Ladybirds Early Years Care & Education
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A day nursery in Barnstaple 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask.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 Good by Ofsted in August 2021, though that is 5 years ago now. Open since 2016, with 100 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
EX32 7AAWhat 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, 10 August 2021 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The friendly and caring staff team create a welcoming environment. Children arrive happy and eager to play with the variety of interesting activities available in their rooms. The setting remained open during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic for vulnerable children and children of key workers to attend, and provided care for children from other settings in addition to their own. Staff recognise that children, in particular babies, have spent limited time away from their parents and some children have had prolonged absences from the nursery due to the pandemic. Staff sensitively provide additional support to help children of all ages settle. They focus on getting to know the child and their family and build warm trusting relationships.
This has a positive impact on children's well-being and emotional development.
Children learn about healthy lifestyles. They use the exciting well-resourced outdoor areas each day. Staff encourage children to make healthy food choices.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- further develop the curriculum to ensure children receive consistent support to help them to acquire the skills for the various stages of pencil grasp development - consider how to encourage all parents' engagement with the online system to ensure they are familiar with what their child has learned at the setting and how to support them at home to develop further.
- 10 August 2021Good
- 17 September 2019Needs improvement
- 5 July 2018Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Ladybirds Early Years Care & Education
- 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.