Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

Original poster

Moving to Exeter

14 replies

Mumdering · 05/02/2019 20:40

We are moving as a family to Exeter this summer for DH's work. First priority is finding a good nursery for my 2 DSs (who are 3 and 1). Any recommendations? We will also need to consider good schools to apply to in January 2020 for DS1, so any advice there too would be great. More generally, what areas are nice, and which should we avoid? Thank you!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Highfever · 09/02/2019 19:45

Happy days Exeter. I know who has just become the manager in one setting. She looked after my child for years and will be a huge asset.

Original poster
Mumdering · 11/02/2019 08:55

Thank you for the recommendation @Highfever! Is the area around the nursery a good place to live?

OP posts:
Highfever · 11/02/2019 20:06

I'm not actually in Exeter so I don't know. Sorry.

Littlemissdaredevil · 16/02/2019 20:26

Where are will your DH and you be working? Exeter is quite small so many people live rurally and commute. Do you want to live in the city, in a village, by the sea? What is important to you?

My daughter is at Kiddi Caru in Matford and loves it. She’s too young for school yet so I haven’t thought about that yet!

ifigoup · 16/02/2019 20:30

Exwick Ark near St David’s station is absolutely lovely - very caring and homely. West Exe Nursery in St Thomas (same side of town) is also excellent with amazing outdoor space including chickens! West Exe only takes 2-year-olds upwards, though, so it would depend when your younger one’s birthday is.

Original poster
Mumdering · 19/02/2019 21:56

@Littlemissdaredevil I thought Kiddi Caru Matford looked really good in the pictures! Loved the outdoor space especially. We are thinking of going down to Exeter next month to do a little recky of the area and visit a few nurseries, KCM will definitely be one of them.

DH will be working at the Royal Devon, and he doesn't want a long commute, but we are quite flexible otherwise (I work from home). Our priority is a nice family area with good nurseries and schools. DS2 won't be going to nursery till early next year, so an area with nice playgroups/toddler activities would be great too.

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 19/02/2019 21:58

My eldest went to puffins in heavitree.

wanderlustgirl · 19/02/2019 22:00

St Leonard's is the nicest area very close to the hospital. Topsham is nice

Original poster
Mumdering · 19/02/2019 22:05

@ifigoup thank you for the recommendations! DS2 won't be going to nursery until he's two anyway, so West Exe's minimum age won't be a problem. Both places seem nice, we will check them out on our visit next month (West Exe probably has the best Ofsted report I have ever read! Not that this is the be all and end all...)

OP posts:
marmiteloversunite · 19/02/2019 22:08

Parking at the RD&E is hideous so I would aim to live in Heavitree/St Leonard’s do that your DH could walk to work.

Littlemissdaredevil · 19/02/2019 22:35

Heavitree and St Leonard are very nice and close to the RD&E. Parking is a pain at the hospital. There is also First Steps Nursery at the RD&E for NHS staff.

Original poster
Mumdering · 20/02/2019 21:48

Thank you for your help ladies! So the consensus is St Leonards / Heavitree (I did not realise parking at the RD&E would be an issue!). We will add Puffins and First Steps on our nurseries to see list.

OP posts:
marmiteloversunite · 20/02/2019 22:21

There are Puffins in St Leonard’s and Heavitree which are both near the hospital.

elliejjtiny · 21/02/2019 14:14

Just looked at the puffins website and there is a photo of ds2 on the front page Grin

New posts on this thread. Refresh page