The Oak Tree Neighbourhood Nursery
OutstandingBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in Ilfracombe for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in February 2024. Open since 2004, with 42 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
EX34 8JLWhat 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, 28 February 2024 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Babies and children immediately immerse themselves in the stimulating and engaging activities on offer. Older children develop their small movements when carefully pouring sawdust from one pot to another, deeply focused so as not to spill it when using various-sized containers. Younger children enjoy drawing, showing confident pencil grip. They comment on their pictures, saying, 'This is eyes and long hair.' They take pride in what they have achieved, stating, 'This is my mummy.' Babies relish in the sensory experiences of feeling cornflour, showing fascination as highly skilled staff squeeze and let go of the cornflour. They introduce and repeat key words, such as 'squeeze' and 'wet'. All children, including children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), access a targeted curriculum that staff plan based on children's individual needs. As a result, all children excel in their development.
Children have an excellent awareness of others and the impact of their behaviours on others. Older children take turns when playing small-group games, and they show exceptional patience and perseverance when younger children join the game.
Staff allow time for children to manage conflicts and problem-solve. For example, children decide their roles in their puppet show, asking, 'Can I be that next if you go first?' Passionate staff have high expectations and are excellent role models.
- 28 February 2024Outstanding
- 24 May 2018Outstanding
- 12 August 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for The Oak Tree Neighbourhood 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.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.