YMCA Dulverton Group | 6 Day Nurseries

Review of
Yew Trees Nursery
from E H (Mother of Child) published on 11 April 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have been so impressed with Yew Trees Nursery. Our daughter was very nervous starting here initially but she now cannot wait to go in each day, and is absolutely thriving here! The range of activities put on and the outdoor space is great and the staff are all lovely and supportive. Her key worker

is amazing! She's brilliant at updating us on her progress each day which we love hearing. We'd highly recommend!

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Yew Trees Nursery

Thank you very much for your 5* review. It means so much to us to know that your family have had such a positive experience at the setting. We are so pleased to hear that your daughter has settled in well and is thriving. I will pass your comments onto the team as they really do appreciate the recognition for all their hard work. Best Wishes

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Review of
Meadowside Preschool
from L R (Father of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience

Great setting. Our children have all been very happy at Meadowside. Fantastic staff and excellent level of care.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Meadowside Preschool

Thank you for your feedback. We are very pleased that you have all had such a great experience at Meadowside. We agree, the staff are fantastic and I will pass your feedback onto them. Many thanks.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from A R (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

The Old Potting Shed Nursery is an outstanding setting. From the moment my daughter started I felt at ease with leaving my her there. The staff are incredible and know exactly what they are doing, they update the app consistently throughout the day so you are able to know what your little one is doing,

and they have supported my daughter throughout. Highly recommend this nursery!

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we are glad to hear you feel confident in our service and the staff's professional experience and knowledge. We have some highly qualified staff in all of our rooms and are very enthusiastic to support our apprentices with gaining their qualifications and practice in early years. We all love to share with parents our experience and support where we are able to. The app is a very useful resource that ensures that you are kept up to date with what is happening with your child when they are in nursery.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from J M (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Overall, I am really pleased with the nursery. My child has clearly learnt a lot of skills whilst he has been in their care, including sitting to a table properly to eat food, walking nicely along side a pushchair and asking questions.
The outside space is fantastic and my child loves playing outside,

which I think has stemmed from playing outside so much at nursery
His speech has improved really well, and again, I think this is down to how the nursery communicate with him.
We would recommend this nursery to other parents and we are lucky to have our son here.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we take great pride in the learning opportunities we offer to the children and are pleased that this is reflected in your experience.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Evie B (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

I cannot rate this nursery high enough. The level of care, attention and affection given to each child is outstanding. Nothing ever feels like a foolish request as a parent and often a staff member has gone the extra mile without being asked. My 3 year old has loved it there since day one and now my

1 year old is starting and I feel very happy knowing she's going to such a loving place. The outside space is wonderful and I can see how much effort the staff put in to help each child develop.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful review, we are pleased to hear that our efforts are recognised as the team are truly dedicated to caring for the children and providing them with the best possible experience.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from N C (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We cannot recommend the Potting Shed enough! From the moment we viewed it, we loved the warm atmosphere, the location and outdoor space as well as the friendly staff.
We also really appreciate the excellent communication with parents. The nursery regularly updates us with photos, progress reports,

and any important notices. It really gives us peace of mind knowing our child is in such caring hands.
Overall, this nursery has exceeded our expectations. We feel very lucky to have found such a wonderful place and our child loves coming here. Highly recommend it to any parents looking for a nurturing, fun and safe environment for their little ones!

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we are pleased to hear that we have exceeded your expectations and that you find our app useful and reassuring. Starting nursery is a very anxious time for parents and being able to update you regularly through the day often helps to relieve any worries parents may have and helps the children to settle quicker once the parents know their children are in safe and caring hands.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from J G (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We have a child in The Stables part of the nursery.
The nursery are passionate about working towards the relevant educational frameworks for our children and translating that into adaptive and varied activities. Focus week is a nice touch and not something we experienced elsewhere when our son was

in nursery.
The nursery has struggled for resource, which is a real shame and does seem to occasionally impact admin and being able to offer flexibility in service provision.
Overall our child is happy at the nursery and loves their key worker, which is the main thing.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we appreciate the feedback and yes generally as an industry the staff recruitment has been an impacting factor to the service we are able to provide. However we have still maintained our high standards of provision and expanded the nursery both in child occupancy and staff team over the course of the 3 years under the YMCA Dulverton Group. We pride ourselves in the team and the high quality of our child centered curriculum.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Storm W (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

We love The Old Potting Shed Nursery, the enclosed outside space is what initially attracted us to the nursery, a lovely large, safe space with so many different experiences within the garden. The staff set up so many activities for the kid, such a good variety of learning and playing every day, he

is always singing a different song that he has learnt. The staff are amazing and care for the children like their own, we all have a great relationship with them all, they have also helped support me with questions or concerns I have had at home, suggesting extra learning or books. The nursery puts on additional events where parents get to meet and get a say in what they would like to see more of at the nursery also events for dads to meet regularly, which we have both found very helpful.The variety of food is brilliant very nutritious, and healthy, he eats better at nursery than he does at home. I also think it is very reasonable money wise for everything you get compared to others.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful feedback and we are pleased to hear that you have enjoyed being part of our parent forum and attending our Dad's group. The children and staff really do enjoy the outdoor space we have and along side this enjoy exploring the grounds of the estate. We strive to support the children and their families as much as possible and take pride in our parent partnerships.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Harriet L (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Wonderful nursery environment. After looking round several nurseries in the area in 2023 for my first child I felt that The Old Potting Shed provided the best environment with their location, indoor and outdoor facilities. After my child starting at the nursery in 2024 I could not be more pleased. Every

day he is happy to go in and really enjoys himself, he has learnt so much and the staff are wonderful with him. Nearly everyday he has plenty of outdoor time and even spends a lot of time in the surrounding grounds on walks and exploring nature.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we are very lucky to have the grounds to explore and we enjoy seeing the children explore and learn from the natural environment. They all love going to see the sheep in the fields on the Drive and the Elephant tree to have a climb. We also use the opportunity to go on bear hunts and to find a Gruffalo

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from K G (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My 14 month old daughter loves going to the Old Potting Shed Nursery so much! She clearly has lovely relationships with the staff and she is very happy and comfortable there. She learns so much, always coming home each week with a new sign, action or word. My 5 year old also attend the nursery and she

also loved it. We are very lucky to have this great resource on our doorstep in such a beautiful setting!

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review, we are pleased to hear that we are a value to the community. It is always an honour to have the siblings attend after especially after the older ones have left. The teams strive to ensure high standards and care for the children as if they were their own.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from C M (Mother of Child) published on 31 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My son has been at this nursery since he was one years old, and he is now 3. He really enjoys going to nursery. He's made lovely friendships with the children. And lovely relationships with the staff there.

The staff are very supportive, when there has been something I need to raise with them about

my child. they will take it on board.
The staff are very professional, kind and always there for support.

The Potting Shed Nursery, is so beautiful, set in the grounds of Coombe Lodge, the children go out and about around the grounds with staff, seeing and learning nature. It's perfect setting. My son has been at other nurseries, but this one is the best.
I have even got my daughter signed up to start In September 2025.

I recommend this nursery to any parents.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your wonderful review, we do enjoy seeing the children explore the stunning grounds of the estate. They lend us extensive opportunities to extend the learning and explore in the natural environment. A real favourite of the children's is the elephant tree where they can climb and learn to take risks.

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Review of
Stepping Stones Pre-School
from R S (Mother of Child) published on 26 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My daughter loves going to stepping stones the staff are incredible and have built such a fantastic relationship with her. Seeing her eyes light up when her favourite staff members greats her in the mornings and my daughter having such a lovely bond with her key worker is just everything ! The staff

have been so supportive throughout the whole process of getting my daughters autism diagnosis and making sure things are in place so she will continue to get the support she needs when she moves onto school in September. I can't thank all the staff enough for what an amazing impact they have had on my daughters life and for always being so patient and encouraging her to achieve her full potential. :)x

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Childcare at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for your lovely review. It has been a pleasure to support you both through the process and watch her development grow. We will be sad to say goodbye in September but know that she is in the best position to transition to school now. She never fails to make us smile. Thank you for recognising the hard work put in by the team to make sure that every child reaches their potential in a supportive and caring way. Best wishes Natalie

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Review of
Stepping Stones Pre-School
from Saskia S (Mother of Child) published on 18 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My 2-year-old has been attending Stepping Stones for a few months now, he was the youngest one when he started but he settled really easily thanks to the warm and kind staff. He really enjoys all the activities that are on offer and he goes in and comes home really happy. We have seen a big development

in both his confidence and speech which has been lovely to see. Compared to his last nursery, which was lovely as well, the communication is a lot better and we get daily updates on what the children have been up to as well as individual updates about our son's development. Staff go above and beyond and as a working parent, it's a relief to know that our son is happy and well looked after. I would highly recommend Stepping Stones to anyone looking for childcare.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Early Years Education at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you for taking the time to write a review. It is lovely to hear that you have had such a positive experience since moving your little one to Stepping Stones. It has been a pleasure to see his confidence and development grow and how well he has settled into the setting. I will pass your feedback onto the team. I know they appreciate it and value the recognition for all the effort they put into making the setting such a welcoming and stimulating environment. Thank you for your recommendation. Best wishes Natalie

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Jen K (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My little girl loves attending nursery at the Potting Shed. The staff in both Acorns and Seedlings are so caring and nurturing. They encourage her to be independent and put so much effort into the activities. I love getting a daily diary with photos of everything she's been doing and she is always super

happy to arrive at nursery in the mornings.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your feedback we are glad that you enjoy the daily updates and feel informed about your child's day.

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Review of
Stepping Stones Pre-School
from S E (Father of Child) published on 11 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My daughter attends this nursery and always has a great time. She is so excited to go everyday and then comes home and talks about it.
She has been having a couple of issues with speaking, however they developed over Christmas 2024 and since only being back at nursery for a couple of weeks there are

some dramatic signs of improvement.
Being attached to the school is really handy for parent drop offs and it also allows the children access to the playgrounds during school class times which is really good for going out for walks and climbing little trees etc.
The staff are really friendly and always happy to talk through the day, any issues and how things are progressing with your child. The staff also design inventive ways to entertain the children, like freezing things in ice for the children to dig out etc.
Seeing the photos from each day is really nice too.

Reply from Natalie Purkiss, Head of Early Years Education at Stepping Stones Pre-School

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely detailed review. We are so pleased to be able to support your daughter in the setting, she is such a joy!! We are very proud of the team and recognise that they go over and above to ensure the children's individual needs are met. Your feedback means a lot and I will be sure to pass it on. Best wishes.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Gabriella D (Mother of Child) published on 7 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Our son has been attending this nursery for a year and a half now, and absolutely loves it. He has grown in confidence and learns so many new skills here. All the messy play and painting is great for his creativity and imagination. And I love that they encourage lots of outdoor activities, as our son

loves being outside, doing things like riding the bikes or running races. It's great to see all the pictures at the end of the day showing what they've been up to. All the staff are approachable, attentive and caring. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend this nursery. Our daughter is starting there soon too, and I know she will be well looked after.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your feedback, we really do love getting messy be it through arts and crafts, or through exploring the natural outdoors environments we have access to. Watching the children grow in confidence to try the messy activities is a highlight of our time with them, and seeing their achievements makes us so proud.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from J H (Mother of Child) published on 5 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My son absolutely loves going to nursery! His speech has come on really well since starting and also his confidence has grown. The team are lovely and caring and very happy leaving my son in their care.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your review we really work hard with the children around speech and language and using a variety of methods to support language development but mostly through singing and reading and simple sign language.

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Review of
Wooden House Nursery
from Hannah S (Mother of Child) published on 4 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Wooden House Nursery has been an incredibly welcoming environment for my little boy. The staff have been so caring and attentive with him and he loves the access to the outdoor space. I would highly recommend this nursery to anyone.

Reply from Caroline Taplin, Manager at Wooden House Nursery

Thank you for your response. It is good to hear that you have felt welcomed well cared for along with enjoying our outside space.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from J F (Mother of Child) published on 3 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

Lovely, friendly nursery, caring and professional. Great communication through the app and feel well-updated throughout the nursery day. Always have lots of different activities available, creative fun and time spent outside.

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your feedback we are continually improving the nursery in all areas and enjoy planning the environments for the little ones to enjoy. We love being outside and often use the grounds of the estate to explore, learn and be curious about all things nature.

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Review of
The Old Potting Shed Nursery
from Amy P (Mother of Child) published on 3 March 2025

Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience

My daughter joined this nursery in December 2024.
She has settled in brilliantly, always super happy at drop off/pick up. Her talking and confidence have improved a lot in such a short time. The staff are so friendly, happy, helpful and patient, I would definitely recommend family and friends to this

nursery. Different rooms inside for all kinds of activities and a huge garden for the children to play in with lots of different toys and educational activities.
A big thank you to all the staff for looking after my little girl!

Reply from Lisa Marchent, Manager at The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Thank you for your lovely feedback, our teams work hard to help each child settle as quickly and securely as possible and it's also just as important to us to support the parents during the settling in stage. We are pleased to hear how happy and settled you are as a family.

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Day Nurseries Owned by YMCA Dulverton Group

YMCA Dulverton Group Locations (6)

YMCA Dulverton Group Reviews (229)

Yew Trees Nursery

Meadowside Preschool

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Stepping Stones Pre-School

Stepping Stones Pre-School

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Stepping Stones Pre-School

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Wooden House Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

The Old Potting Shed Nursery

Awards / Recognitions (2)

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