The Ark at Thomas Hall
OutstandingBirth 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 They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2023. Open since 2015, 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
EX4 5ADWhat 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, 15 May 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children flourish in this friendly setting. Staff expertly support children with learning and development. The confidence and independence that children demonstrate when exploring their environment are impressive. Staff build superb relationships with the children and are partners in children's play. Children thrive in learning and development. They are eager to share their ideas and opinions with staff and they beam as adults praise and value their ideas. Children show levels of care and respect for staff and their friends that are impressive for their age. Children play cooperatively and listen exceptionally well to each other when making choices about what happens in their play.
Children benefit from a curriculum with clear learning intentions and a learning environment that is inviting and is carefully set up to meet the children's needs.
Curriculum activities support children's next steps in learning. Children enjoy a daily routine that offers them familiarity and helps them feel in control of their own learning. Children have lots of opportunities to develop their physical skills in a dedicated, age-appropriate outside area. It is used for play and for learning about living things and their habitats. Children enjoy a wide range of activities that help them greatly extend their knowledge across all areas of the Early Years Foundation
- 15 May 2023Outstanding
- 13 November 2017Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 2 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Ark at Thomas Hall
- 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.