Swallows Day Nursery
GoodBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Barnstaple for children from birth to 8+, open 07:30 to 18:30, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 2009, with 30 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 0QTWhat 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, 11 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children arrive at the setting with enthusiasm and transition smoothly to the staff's care. Strong relationships between staff and parents are evident as they engage in meaningful conversations during the children's arrival, ensuring a seamless transition between home and nursery. Children seek reassurance from staff when needed. Staff enhance children's emotional well-being through gentle and kind interactions, fostering an environment of trust and care.
Staff have high expectations for all children. They are fantastic role models and teach children to follow rules and procedures with sensitivity. Children engage in play effectively; alone or with peers, demonstrating good behaviour and manners.
For example, older children raise their hands to speak during group activities and wait patiently for their turn. Children use polite phrases like please and thank you.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- develop group times to ensure children's continued engagement and learning n provide further opportunities for children to develop and practise their independence skills.
- 11 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 6 November 2019Good
- 12 December 2018Needs improvement
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Swallows 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.
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.