Whimple Preschool Playgroup
GoodTakes funded hoursBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in Exeter for from 2 years up to 5 year olds, open 09:00 to 15:30, 4 days a week. £7.00 an hour for 2 - 3 years, and they take the funded hours. Rated Good by Ofsted in June 2025. Open since 1992, with 24 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Price list dated September 2025.
| Age | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 - 3 years2y to 3y | £7.00Unfunded hours fees for 2 - 3 year olds | |
| 3 and 4 years3y to 4y | £6.50Unfunded hours fees for 3 and 4 year olds | |
| All ages | £7.50if space allows |
Funded hours
Early Years Entitlement Funding – for all children from 3 years, 15 hours per week free childcare funded by Devon County Council. Funding for eligible working families - up to 30 Hours per week for children aged 9 months to 4 years. 2 Year Targeted Funding which is now referred to as 'Families requiring additional support' (FRAS) funding.
Worth knowing. We can accept 30 hour funding codes which can be shared with other settings. We are currently open for 26 hours per week. You must make the application the term before you wish to start receiving the funding and you can apply up to 16 weeks before your child turns 9 months. You need to apply online before the deadline to receive a code to give to your childcare provider. The deadline is the day before the new term begins, but we encourage you to apply earlier, and recommend applying at least 6 w.
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
EX5 2TSWhat 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, 24 June 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
The pre-school provides a warm and nurturing environment. The staff know the children and their families well, ensuring children's emotional development needs are met. Parents appreciate the care their children receive alongside the regular communication, commenting 'they are always available'. The children demonstrate their independence through daily routines and carefully planned meaningful opportunities. Staff welcome children at the door and encourage them to independently put away their coat and self-register before choosing from the activities available inside the setting.
The curriculum intent is clear with a strong focus on building and developing language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development, which ensures children are ready to transition to school. Staff set out a range of resources that reflect children's current interests and support different ways of learning. For example, diggers were provided with a sensory material to enable children to scoop and gather, which also offered sensory input for those who benefit from this type of play.
The staff engage with the children at all times, modelling speech and language, while building upon and extending children's knowledge and vocabulary. All children enjoy spending time outside each day. Staff provide resources that reflect children's interests and skilfully extend their learning, for example using measuring tapes to measure how far cars travel down a ramp. Staff meet fortnightly to discuss the needs of all the children and plan how to meet next steps, including targeted activities to support children who need it.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance staff communication during transitions so that expectations are clear and the environment remains calm and supportive n create opportunities for children to access a quieter space when they need time away from the busy environment.
- 24 June 2025Good Safeguarding: Yes
- 2 December 2019Good
- 13 June 2019Inadequate
Rated Good or Outstanding at 2 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Whimple Preschool Playgroup
- 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
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- Is £7.00 an hour still the rate? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? 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.