Puffins at Beer Pre-School
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A pre-school in Nr Seaton for children from birth to 8+, open sessions in term time, often mornings. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2022. Open since 2002, with 20 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
EX12 3NBWhat 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, 30 November 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive very happily to be greeted by warm and welcoming staff. They come into the pre-school independently and take care of their possessions, hanging their coats on designated pegs and putting other items in their own trays. Children show a strong sense of belonging and positively thrive in this exceptional preschool.
The pre-school manager and her staff team have very clear intentions for children's learning. They skilfully plan enticing activities that children are highly motivated to take part in. Staff expertly play alongside children in activities of their choice, using very effective teaching strategies, to extend children's learning. For example, children use their imagination to hunt for treasure while staff encourage them to make maps and follow directions to find the treasure. Staff routinely encourage children to count and use mathematical language as they play. Children show a secure understanding of number. They are learning to identify the properties of shapes, which they correctly name. They learn about money as they role play in the post office, suggesting that a parcel will cost 'five pounds' to send in the post.
Children demonstrate extremely high levels of self-control as they share toys and take turns using a sand timer. Staff are wonderful role models for the children, who are learning vital social skills that many of them missed opportunities for during the
- 30 November 2022Outstanding
- 20 January 2017Good
- 30 April 2014Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Puffins at Beer 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.
Pre-schools within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.