Welcome to Woodside Centre
Woodside Nursery and Pre-school is a setting within the community of Tiverton. We offer childcare for children from 6 weeks until 5 years old.
We offer 49 Ofsted-registered places and we were assessed as a "Good" in all areas on 5 December 2022 by Ofsted.
We have limited childcare places available now so please contact us to arrange a visit.
The setting offers a neutral and calm environment for the children to come and learn, play and explore within.
With a dedicated staff team, the setting thrives off parent partnership and working with the community.
Staff hold a wealth of knowledge, experience and qualifications between them and use their individual skills to provide high quality care and learning to each child that attends the setting.
We focus on each child as an individual and plan from their interests. The setting is designed around communication-friendly spaces.
As well as a 0-2 baby room and a 2-5 play room, all children also have access to our Nurture Room which is designed for sensory exploration and small group times.
We are managed by the ÎÞÂëÌìÌà which has 50 years experience delivering childcare and practical, professional support to early years practitioners across the country.
"Leaders and staff know the children well. They use their knowledge to plan a curriculum that incorporates children's interests and is based on key themes. They identify children's next steps in learning and use these to plan child-led activities. Children make good progress in their learning and development". Ofsted 2022
We are delighted to have won a Top 20 Nursery Awards 2022 from daynurseries.co.uk. The awards highlight the most recommended day nurseries in each region of the UK, based on over 22,000 reviews received between 1 March 2014 to 1 March 2022.
Opening times
We are open from 8 am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 51 weeks of the year, excluding bank holidays and three staff training days. We offer a wide range of sessions within our opening times to meet the different needs of families.
We offer
- A room dedicated for our babies
- Private spaces for 0-2's. 2-3's and 3-5's
- Funded childcare for qualifying two year olds and all three and four year olds, with options to add additional hours
- A safe, friendly and fun place for you and your child
- Learning through indoor and outdoor play activities
- A well-qualified, kind and caring team
- A dedicated person to give focused support to your child
- The 30 hour offer for eligible parents
- Healthy snacks and meals are prepared and provide on site by our Nursery Chef.
- Famly Software to support partnerships with parents and carers, sharing your child's experiences at Woodside Nursery and Pre-School
Find out more
To arrange a visit, please contact Adelaide, Nursery Manager on 01884 243712 or email woodside@eyalliance.org.uk
About us
Woodside Nursery and Pre-school offers childcare for children from six weeks old to five years old. Our vision is that the children learn through play in an environment that is a place to explore, where they feel comfortable to express their personality and unique learning style.
Our setting offers a bright neutral atmosphere in a large room split into areas to enable children to investigate in play such as music, yoga, home play area, construction, mark making and reading. We also enjoy taking the children out on trips to explore the environment around us. A favourite place of ours to go is a local care home to share a snack whilst making friends. Each term we ensure we celebrate different holidays, events and cultures. The most recent event was World Book Day, the children and staff dressed up throughout the week and engaged in a range of story focused activities. We offer cooked meals throughout the day alongside breakfast and snacks, the children help our chef wherever possible to prepare and cook the food.
Home Learning and parent partnership is important to us, through our Famly app we have the opportunity to share learning idea's and inform parents what their children are up to regularly. In our reception area we have a home learning corner which provides learning packs to borrow and a lending book library, all updated regularly.
Our Baby Room: Franki the Baby Room Senior Nursery Worker and our Nursery Practitioners to transformed the room by creating small calm areas for the babies to play and explore in. We have created a black and white area, a sensory area and a cosy book corner. This creates a calming environment, the small area also means the babies get space to have one-to-one time with their key person. Franki and the team provide secure attachments with the children and professional relationships with parents. We ensure the babies get the opportunity to play outside, explore their senses, engage is messy activities and enjoy story and song time.
The Toddler Room: Zoe our Deputy Manager runs the 2-3 years room and works alongside the rest of the team to provide a stimulating, fun learning environment for the children. They have the opportunity to explore the environment through creative and imaginative play. All children have opportunities throughout the day to work in small groups with their key person, to extend personal, social and emotional skills, enabling them to develop independence and a 'have a go' attitude. We have adopted the curiosity approach within the setting, meaning all children can approach activities with their own unique vision, passion and imagination.
Pre-School Room: Lucy - the Pre-School Senior Practitioner leads our pre-school room focuses on getting the children school ready. Within this area the children’s learning is extended through a range of resources and activities. We focus on letters and sounds, numeracy and independence. The ethos of learning through play is continued within the pre-school room and activities are targeted at children’s interests. The children get the chance to problem solve, work together, learn and explore.
The garden
The children have access to the garden throughout the day and our daily routine incorporates indoor outdoor play, meaning the children can follow their choice and interests. Within our garden the children get the opportunity to explore their physical skills on the climbing equipment, be creative in the mud kitchen and become green-fingered in the planting and growing area. The children thrive off our outdoor learning sessions and most recently enjoyed acting out the 'Shark in the Park' story. Our children love to look after our bunny Sooty, feeding him regularly. We have recently planted all our seeds ready to watch our plants and vegetables grow throughout spring.
Find out more
To arrange a visit, please contact Adelaide, Early Years Manager on 01884 243712 or email woodside@eyalliance.org.uk
Our Team
Our well qualified, committed and experienced team works hard to create a caring and learning environment in the nursery. We know every child develops differently and at different times therefore every child has a 'Key Person' who focuses on them. This helps us to ensure every child feels involved, stimulated and happy in our care.
We follow rigorous staff recruitment and supervision procedures to ensure anyone joining our team undertakes relevant security checks including Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure, references and qualification checks. Parents are reassured knowing that child protection and safeguarding underpins every aspect of our practice.
Your child's 'key person'
Every child who joins the nursery receives support from an experienced member of the team. They are responsible for your child’s individual needs and known as the ‘key person’. The key person is your main point of contact however all nursery staff are happy to feedback on your child’s developmental progress on a daily basis or discuss any concerns with you. They will also keep records of your child’s progress and achievement, which are always available for you to see and contribute towards.
Your child’s key person will make time to find out from you about your child’s interests, likes, dislikes and special requirements. Please share any important or useful information when you register your child and throughout their time with us. This helps us to give your child the most appropriate care and learning to suit their developmental, emotional and physical needs. You can access and contribute your views to your child's progress and achievements in their records.
Meet the team
Adelaide - Early Years Manager
I’m Adelaide and I am the Nursery Manager at Woodside. I’ve been at Woodside for a year now and Iove it here. It is a fabulous nursery with a great space for children to play and learn. It is such a warm and friendly environment to work in and the staff are lovely. I am excited to see what the future holds here since we had our Ofsted inspection in December 2022 where we received a Good rating which we are all delighted with.
I have worked in childcare for the last 15 years. I have worked with all ages, from Early Years to age eleven. I love all ages but my real passion is the Early Years. I am fascinated by how different the children’s personalities are and how they develop and grow.
I have 2 children, Ava and Daisy, 14 and 9 respectively. Our family loves to spend days out in the countryside with our dog Herbert. Since moving to Devon 14 months ago we try to make the most of being outside and like to visit the beaches as much as we can rain or shine!
My partner and I share a love of gardening and we are starting to grow our own vegetables in our garden. I have recently bought a greenhouse and am awaiting its arrival. I cannot wait for it to arrive! I am a hoping it will be full of plants by the summer!
Jo, Early Years Assistant Manager
I am Jo, and I have been working at Woodside Nursery for five years, starting as a Nursery Worker then Senior Room Lead and now Assistant Manager with SENCO responsibilities.
My first experience in a nursery was when I trained in the Montessori method of nursery teaching. Before completion I had my first daughter and for work reasons moved to Italy. In Italy I worked as a language teacher, teaching five to eleven year olds.
After eight years living in Italy, we, five children and I returned to England and I completed a Level 3 in Early Years and Childcare. Five years later on completion of an initial teacher training course, I taught Music and Drama in secondary school for almost nine years. Caring for the elderly, for a while bought me to Woodside when I visited with a parent and liked it so much, I now work here.
My life’s experiences with children of all ages, has helped me to nurture and teach children using my strengths. I also use a lot of musically inspired activities, teaching the children mathematics and literacy using their favourite songs and playing instruments. As an artist, I fill the craft table with a variety of ideas enabling the children to be creative.
Each month, I like to introduce new subjects and books that match the activities as books and reading are vital to a child’s development. I also include activities in the garden and tell the children all about growing vegetables and show them insects that live under logs of wood.
I have worked with parents through the development of their children and enjoy supporting any special needs. I support other nursery workers by suggesting ways of learning or creating exciting activities to help our children develop and grow.
Jess, Nursery Assistant
Hello, I’m Jessica! I started at Woodside nursery as the 2-3 lead in January 2023 after working as toddler room lead in an Exeter nursery for the last 4 years although I spent 9 months of this time on maternity leave after having my first child, Maeve, on Christmas Day 2021! I have recently moved to Tiverton with my daughter and partner after living in Sidmouth all my life! In my spare time I am enjoying exploring the local areas around Tiverton and getting to know my new home town. I also enjoy going for runs in the evening to re charge and I am currently working on the couch to 5k with the ambition of running a race at the end of the year!
When I’m not at work or running around Tiverton I enjoy switching my brain off by baking yummy cakes or doing a paint by numbers! I trained in level 3 childcare with Exeter college which bought lots of opportunities to gain work experience with 0-7 year olds and I’ve worked with children ever since.
Working with children brings me so much joy and truly is my passion in life, there is nothing better than seeing the smiling innocent faces and watching the next generation grow! At work I love reading stories and getting messy in the sensory tray! At work my colleagues would probably say I can be quiet at times, reliable and professional but my friends and family would say I’m a bit crazy.
Meet Ali, Our Chef and Flexible worker..
I have worked here at Woodside for just over 6 years, and I have 2 roles within the nursery. My main role is as a nursery Chef Whereby I plan and produce health, well balanced and nutritious meals catering for all allergies that need to be taken into account.
When Ofsted inspected in December 2022, they observed that my meals were homemade and wholesome, and the Food Standards Agency agreed in January 2023 by awarding me another 5 star rating! My other role is a Flexi Worker so that I can work on the floor with the children whatever age as I am qualified to Level 3 with a Diploma in PreSchool Practice.
When I am not working, I love exploring the beautiful southwest beaches and going for walks among nature in the woods and on the moors. But spending time with my lovely family is in the thing I love doing the most. .
Find out more
To arrange a visit, please contact Adelaide, Early Years Manager on 01884 243712 or email woodside@eyalliance.org.uk
65432131205
FAQs
Do you have childcare places available at the moment?
Yes we do! Simply contact us to discuss you and your child's needs.
Do you offer funded entitlement for three year olds?
Children are eligible for the funding in the term following their third birthday. The funding is available for up 15 hours per week. You can choose how to access the funding now, either 11 hours per week for 51 weeks of the year or 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. We also except the 30 hours extended funding, this can be claimed term time only or stretched throughout the year.
Do you offer funded entitlement for two year olds?
If your child is two years old, your child may be eligible to attend the two year old funded childcare programme. You can chooses how to access the funding now, either 11 hours per week for 51 weeks of the year or 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year.
What sessions do you offer?
We have a range of sessions; morning session from 8am-1pm, afternoon session 1pm-6pm and all day 8am-6pm.
There are also alternative sessions for children once they are eligible for funding. Please ask for more details.
Do you provide hot meals?
We have chef Ali on site who cooks a two-course lunch each day. We also prepare and make our own tea menu. Please ask to see a copy of our menu.
Are you able to accommodate children with different dietary requirements?
We are able to adapt meals and menus to fit individual dietary requirements, please let us know on registration.
What qualifications do your staff have?
All our staff are qualified ranging from level 2 to 5.
How many staff will be looking after my child?
Depending on the age of your child, will depend on the child:staff ratio. There is always at least two members of staff in a room at one time and staff are effectively deployed according to the number of children.
How quickly can my child start?
Once you have registered your child we will look at arranging settle sessions in preparation for your child's first session.
Find out more
To arrange a visit, please contact Adelaidei, Nursery Manager on 01884 243712 or email woodside@eyalliance.org.uk
Contact Us
Adelaide, Nursery Manager
The Woodside Centre,
Lea Road,
Tiverton,
Devon.
EX16 6SD
T: 01884 243712
She loves nursery and is learning so much. I love the updates and photos and feel really well communicated with. Woodside seems to have a great ethos from the top down. I often see the nursery manager getting stuck in and is obviously well involved with all of the children, the admin team are always polite and helpful and even after only a few weeks all of the team have got to know our daughter and helped make it a lovely environment.
''I am so glad I chose Woodside for my daughter. I was very nervous about leaving her with anyone as she had only ever been with me or her nana. The staff have been absolutely amazing, and she has settled in like it's a second home. She always comes home full of stories of her day and even teaches me new nursery rhymes. She adores all the staff, even tells people that her key worker is her best friend. She's only been there for two months, and already the confidence she has gained from Woodside is incredible.The nursery is set out so wonderfully, and they change up the different areas often to give the kids a huge range of experience with all sorts of different things also, the outdoor area is beautifully set out too, full of fun and educational activities.The staff are always helpful and informative, and the app is great and really lovely to be able to share your child's progress with family members.I couldn't recommend Woodside highly enough!''
''All the staff at The Woodside Centre are lovely, friendly and easy to talk to.They treat my child like family, and they love going there.I know they are in safe hands and are learning whilst playing. I cannot recommend it enough. Thank you!''
''Extremely pleased with my choice to send my little one here. We had just moved back to England so have had a couple of unsettled weeks/months. I was worried my little one was going to find it hard to settle in. With only a couple session, she gets so excited every morning when I say it’s time to see your key worker, as we walk through the doors she runs to put her stuff away and to the gate or to cuddle from her. It has made me feel so happy to know she has the best time and feels so comfortable. I always get a warm welcome by all the staff at every drop off and pick up, it’s so lovely. Would definitely recommend to everyone.''
''After sending my oldest here, I have recommended Woodside to friends and family who have also said how much they love it here. I have just started sending my youngest who enjoys it just as much as her sister. It's such a fab place. We have moved around the local area and I'm so pleased we are close to this setting again.''