Snapdragons Pre-School
GoodBirth to 8+Long established
A pre-school in Bideford for children from birth to 8+, open 09:00 to 15:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. Open since 2013, 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
EX39 1HTWhat 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, 4 March 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are happy and settled at the pre-school. They develop good relationships with staff and demonstrate that they feel safe and secure in their care. Staff have high expectations for children's behaviour. Children develop good social skills and are learning to make friends. When they arrive, they are pleased to see each other and are eager to begin their play. Children behave well. They are kind to each other and share resources.
Lively conversations take place throughout the day as children play in the mud kitchen and pretend to make tea for staff and visitors. Staff skilfully support younger children to develop their communication skills. For example, younger children enjoy picture games to develop their understanding, vocabulary and speaking skills. Children are confident and motivated to learn. Older children acquire skills that help to prepare them for their transition to school. For example, staff provide good opportunities for children to learn about numbers, develop their early writing skills and learn to manage their own risk.
Leaders and staff give high priority to children's emotional well-being. During the
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should: - review the organisation, particularly the length, of adult-led group times to ensure that all children play a full and active part in all learning experiences provided n offer children further opportunities to develop their independence by consistently allowing them to carry out more tasks for themselves.
- 4 March 2022Good
- 2 April 2014Outstanding
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for Snapdragons 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.