NurseryWise Childcare in England
Day nursery in Exeter

Little Explorers Day Nursery

Ofsted report card Mar 2026Birth to 8+Long established

A day nursery in Exeter for children from birth to 8+, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Inspected under Ofsted's new report card in March 2026. Open since 2018, with 30 places.

Call 07701320653

Cost

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

£6.00an hour, typical for a 2 years old
£5.56an hour, typical for a 3 and 4 years old

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.

The basics

Places, hours and the day

Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.

Who they can take
Birth to 8+Registered from birth. Whether there is a baby room is a question for the call.
When it's open
Open all day, usually 8am to 6pm
Funded hours
Not published, so ask them
How many children
30 placesMedium for England
How long open
8 yearsLong established
Address
Treetops, Three Horse Shoes, Exeter, EX5 5EU

Where it is

EX5 5EU
Ofsted URN 2502286On the register since 29 October 2018
Inspected 12 March 2026

What Ofsted found, area by area

Since November 2025 Ofsted gives a standard in each of seven areas rather than one overall grade. Expected standard means it is doing what it should.

Keeping children safe
Met
Including every child
Strong standard
What and how they teach
Expected standard
How children get on
Expected standard
Behaviour and routines
Expected standard
Welfare and wellbeing
Strong standard
Leadership
Expected standard
Ofsted

What 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.

  • 12 March 2026Report card seven areas graded separately Safeguarding: Met
  • 28 July 2021Good

Still missing for Little Explorers Day 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.

Before you ring

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.
Compare

Day nurseries within a couple of miles

This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.

The Ark at Thomas Hall

Day nursery · Thomas Hall, Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, EX4 5AD

OutstandingBirth to 8+Open all day, usually 8am to 6pm20 placesLong established
1.0 mi
20 min walk
01392 757371

The Exwick Ark

Day nursery · The Old School, Exwick Road, Exeter, EX4 2AT

GoodBirth to 8+07:45 to 17:45, 5 days a week★ 5.0 Google, 2952 placesLong established
1.6 mi
4 min drive
01392 425551Their website

Adventurers

Day nursery · 64 Sylvan Road, Exeter, EX4 6HA

Not yet inspectedTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Babies from 9 monthsOpen all day, usually 8am to 6pm66 placesNewly opened
1.9 mi
5 min drive
07467582059Their website

Tops Exeter

Day nursery · University of Exeter, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter, EX4 4PL

GoodBirth to 8+08:00 to 18:30, 5 days a week★ 3.6 Google, 10104 placesOpen a few years
1.9 mi
5 min drive
01392 305305Their website

St David's Hill Playgroup

Day nursery · 41b Bonhay Road, St David'S, Exeter, EX4 4BP

OutstandingBirth to 8+08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week24 placesOpen for decades
2.1 mi
6 min drive
01392 425 519

Tic Tocs Day Nursery

Day nursery · Haldon Road, Exeter, EX4 4DZ

GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Babies from 9 months07:45 to 18:00, 5 days a week★ 4.9 Google, 1252 placesOpen for decades
2.2 mi
6 min drive
01392410902Their website

Pick two or three to compare.

Everything here comes from Ofsted's published childcare register, under the Open Government Licence. Ratings are quoted exactly as Ofsted gave them, with their dates. Read the full Ofsted reports · How we put this together.

All childcare in Exeter