Our Nursery
Our Nursery
Acorns Nursery, located on Alphington Road, Exeter, first opened its doors in 1996 and became part of the Devon Nurseries family in 2006. Since then, it has grown into a nurturing, welcoming space where children feel safe, valued, and truly at home.
Set across two floors, the nursery offers four thoughtfully designed rooms, a dedicated dining area, and three spacious gardens where children can explore, play, and connect with nature. Every part of Acorns day nursery has been created with comfort and care in mind, providing a calm and cosy environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive at their own pace.
We welcome children from 3 months to 5 years, Monday to Friday from 7:45am to 6pm. Over the years, Acorns has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality childcare and early education, always centred around the individual needs of each child.
Our Team & Community
Our passionate and dedicated team works together to give every child the very best start in life. Relationships are at the heart of everything we do, staff treat each child with kindness, respect, and genuine warmth, creating a consistent and reassuring experience across all rooms. Each space includes cosy corners for quiet moments, as well as easy access to drinks and resources that encourage independence as children grow and transition through the nursery.
We take pride in offering a wide range of meaningful experiences, tailored to children's interests and developmental needs. Our team goes above and beyond to support the children and their families, because we believe in nurturing the whole family, not just the individual child.
At Acorns, we see ourselves as one big family. We love welcoming parents, carers, and grandparents into nursery life through special events such as teddy bear picnics, Mother's Day celebrations, Grandparents' Day, and our much-loved Cosy Christmas Night. This magical evening brings everyone together in pyjamas for hot chocolate, festive stories, a visit from Santa, and making reindeer food, creating memories to treasure.
Acorns Nursery is more than just a place of learning, it's a place where children feel loved, supported, and truly at home.
Ashleigh Richards
Department Lead
Jade Nicholls
Department Lead
Sam Bedwell
Department Lead
Chloe Matthews
Deputy Manager
Amanda Turner
Acorns Nursery Manager
Facilities & Outdoor Locations
Explore our facilities and outdoor spaces, and read our latest Ofsted ratings and reports — everything you need to feel confident in your choice.
Kitchen & Dining
Mealtimes at Acorns are a warm and sociable part of the day, with dedicated dining spaces across the nursery where children come together to eat, chat, and develop important life skills. All meals are freshly prepared on-site using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.
Outdoor Play
Our three beautiful gardens offer children daily opportunities to explore, discover, and connect with the natural world through activities such as growing vegetables, construction play, and sensory exploration. We place great importance on outdoor play and fresh air as part of every child's day.
Ofsted
We are proud to have received a Good rating from Ofsted in our most recent inspection (June 2025), recognising the high-quality care, engaging curriculum, and nurturing environment we provide. Our full report is available here.