hdc Dartington

Gidleys Meadow, Dartington, Totnes TQ9 6JZ
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9.8 55 Reviews
  • hdc Dartington, Totnes
The beautiful hdc Dartington Nursery in Totnes is nestled between Dartmoor and the South Devon coastline. All rooms within the nursery have a hygge-inspired decor, helping children to feel comfortable and secure in a home-from-home environment.

The baby areas are spacious and lead directly onto a private decking area, overlooking the garden which provides plenty of fresh air and free movement. This room is carefully structured, to allow for quiet spaces made for sleeping and relaxation, as well as suitable spaces and equipment to encourage messy play.

The Meadow Room is for children approaching 2 years old and is equipped with a large variety of resources and natural objects to encourage your child's curiosity. There is a large garden area, designed to promote outdoor play, and to encourage an active lifestyle where the children can take part in activities such as running around, cycling, and much more.

In the Forest Room, children will join as they near three years old. They will experience a mix of child-led and adult-led activities, encouraging a holistic approach to learning, whilst developing their knowledge on food and the environment. Promoting a healthy lifestyle at Dartington Nursery is incredibly important, so the team encourage spending time outdoors and provide children with the opportunity to grow their own vegetables in the large outdoor garden.

The beautiful Tree Tops room is the last stop before your child goes to Primary School. The daily activities are specially designed to get your child ready for a more independent life. The team focus on providing support to families and children before, during and after the transition to school takes place.

The nursery offers exceptional care, enriched by unique learning opportunities for your child. One such experience is child-friendly cooking classes, helping to equip children with valuable skills and deeper knowledge of the cooking process.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Melissa Jordan (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 19

Total Places for Children

  • 87

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • Full Day Session £74.20

  • A £100 non-refundable registration fee is required to secure a place. Exact days of attendance should be confirmed no later than 6 weeks prior to the child’s start date. Any changes are subject to availability.

Opening Times

  • Monday 07:30-18:00
    Tuesday 07:30-18:00
    Wednesday 07:30-18:00
    Thursday 07:30-18:00
    Friday 07:30-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Parking

  • Parking is available outside the nursery making it easy for drop-off and pick-up.

hdc Dartington Reviews (55)

9.8

hdc Dartington has a Review Score of 9.8 (9.800) out of 10, based on 21 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time hdc Dartington has 55 reviews.

Overall Experience
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Date Published
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Reviewer Connection to hdc Dartington
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Total of 55, showing 1-20
Review from Liam P (Father of Child) published on 20 November 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I am beyond happy with the standards of the nursery, my son has done nothing but thrive since joining in February 2025. The handovers are thorough and information is given about his day, what activities he's been involved in and how he has generally been during the day. The children have plenty of garden
and outdoor spaces to explore and they seem very happy to be outside. The staff at the nursery are professional and show a real passion for their role in supporting and caring for the children.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
It is wonderful to read how well your son has settled and how much he is thriving since joining us. Our team put great care into providing thorough handovers and sharing the details of each child's…read more
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Review from E W (Mother of Child) published on 21 October 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We've been so impressed with the care, warmth, and creativity at the nursery. The staff are genuinely nurturing and take the time to get to know each child as an individual, creating such a happy and welcoming environment. Our child absolutely loves coming in each day - it's clear how much thought goes
into making learning fun and meaningful.
The activities are engaging, and we've really noticed our child's confidence, communication, and independence grow since joining. The team's kindness and consistency make a significant difference, and we are grateful for the way they support both children and their families.
If there were one small area for development, it would be lovely to see feedback that links more explicitly to the EYFS framework - with examples of how our child's skills are developing and what next steps could support that further. This would help us continue that learning at home as well.
Overall, we couldn't be happier - the staff and atmosphere are wonderful!
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback. We are delighted to read how happy and engaged your child is and that you have seen such positive growth. The team pays much attention to offering a…read more
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Review from Marcus F (Mother of Child) published on 1 September 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our child has attended HDC Dartington since 9 months old, and now as she leaves to start school, we can't thank the team enough for the incredible care, support, and encouragement they've given over the past four years. From the very beginning, the staff made us feel at ease, creating a nurturing and
welcoming environment where our child has truly thrived. It has been wonderful to watch her grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity, supported by engaging activities and varied learning opportunities. The team's dedication, warmth, and genuine love for the children shine through in everything they do, and it's clear how much effort goes into making every child feel valued and happy. HDC Dartington also offers a fantastic outdoor space that the staff make full use of, which inspired our child's love for nature through gardening and environmental learning. We are so grateful for the start they have given her and for preparing her so well for school.
Reply from Jo Bamforth, Marketing Manager at hdc Dartington
Thank you so much for your heartfelt words. We're so pleased she's leaving us confident, curious and ready for school. We'll all miss her but are so grateful for your kind feedback - it means a lot to…read more
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Review from R L (Mother of Child) published on 28 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I have 2 children at the nursery and they both absolutely love it. The staff are caring and know the children individually and are able to meet their different needs.


Everyone is always very professional and kind.


They have a good range of food and activities.


They are limited due to location

by the outside space that is available to them but they make the most of what they have.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
We are delighted to read that both your children are enjoying their time with us. It is so important to us that each child feels seen, supported, and valued, so we are glad that the care and attention…read more
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Review from C M (Mother of Child) published on 21 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Our children's key people have been wonderful. The leadership now has been very good and responsive. They have made really positive changes like introducing more days out. I only put about value for money because the funding only covers 7.45 hrs a day so although we only use 2 days we still feel like
we have a fairly big bill. But I understand why the nursery have done this as childcare is not funded well from government despite the recent changes.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
We are so pleased to read that you have had a positive experience at our nursery. We understand the challenges around funding and appreciate your understanding of the wider picture. We continue to…read more
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Review from Lucy J (Mother of Child) published on 17 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I would highly recommend HDC Dartington, the nursery teachers in all the rooms are a total delight (our daughter has been there since she turned 18months and is about to leave for pre-school), the staff turnover is low, so the children get an awful lot of consistency. The curriculum is well followed,
and the app shows so many interesting activities happening (aboriginal artwork this week!) including walks and trips to the library. Our little girl has been very happy there.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
We're delighted to hear how happy your daughter has been with us and that you've valued the consistency of care and activities from the team. It is always sad to see children leave us for their next…read more
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Review from V N (Mother of Child) published on 16 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Really lovely nursery setting! The staff are always so welcoming and friendly. Our little one has been at HDC since the baby room and is now in Tree Tops. It is so lovely to see her forming such special friendships and thanks to HDC she has come such a long way with her development and learning something
new each week!
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
We are thrilled to hear that your little one has enjoyed her time with us and has made new friendships along the way. It is wonderful to know that we have played a part in her development and that…read more
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Review from Sarah B (Mother of Child) published on 7 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely nursery with great staff who have made my son's time there really enjoyable. The outdoor facilities are great and he loves all the opportunities for messy play. We struggle to get him in the car to go home which shows how much he enjoys it!
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
We are so pleased to learn that your son is enjoying his time with us and that our messy play and outdoor learning experiences are well-received! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review.
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Review from C E (Mother of Child) published on 3 July 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I'd like to nominate a particular member of staff from forest for the thank you gift because she goes above and beyond every single day. Her kindness, patience, and genuine care for the children shine through in everything she does. She creates a warm, nurturing environment where every child feels safe,
valued, and encouraged to grow. She's not just a teacher-she's a steady source of support for both the children and their families. Her positive energy, creativity, and dedication make such a difference, and we are so lucky to have her. She truly deserves to be recognised for the love and effort she puts into her work.
As a parent, it means so much to know that my child is in such loving and capable hands. We are so lucky to have her, and she absolutely deserves to be recognised for the incredible love and effort she puts into her work every day.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
Thank you so much for your incredibly detailed review. We will be sure to pass this on to the team member in question, who will be so proud to know that her dedication and care have made such a…read more
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Review from Thom W (Father of Child) published on 28 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
This is our first time using a nursery, and have been amazed by how creative and varied each week has been for our child. The staff have been fabulous, attentive and are always extremely approachable. It feels like a great place to be, and we are extremely satisfied with the care our child is receiving.
Reply from Hannah, Marketing Business Partner at hdc Dartington
Thanks for leaving us a positive review. We're so glad your first nursery experience has been a positive one and that you're happy with the care, creativity, and variety of activities - it really…read more
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Review from T F (Father of Child) published on 13 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff at the nursery couldn't have been more helpful with helping our child settle in to nursery life. They have always been on hand to answer any questions we have and go above and beyond in every aspect of making them feel comfortable in a new setting.
Reply from Hannah Nabil, Marketing Business Partner at hdc Dartington
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We're so glad to hear that you felt supported during your child's transition into nursery. It means a lot to know our team has helped make the experience a positive…read more
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Review from Emily B (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter has attended HDC Dartington for almost a year.
All of the staff are kind, caring and so considerate of all of the children. My daughter absolutely loves going and I have seen her come on leaps and bounds since she has started here.
The nursery manager is lovely, approachable and always
so understanding.
Reply from Hannah Nabil, Marketing Business Partner at hdc Dartington
Thank you for the kind words about our nursery and team, we appreciate your recommendation and look forward to continuing to support your daughter in her learning journey.
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Review from Christian W (Father of Child) published on 19 February 2025 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Everyone at the nursery has made us feel so welcome and I haven't had a negative experience in our first 6 months. Our son loves each day, and it has really helped him grow. It's been great and would recommend to any parent.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
Thank you for recommending our nursery. We are so pleased to read that your son settled in well.
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Review from L R (Mother of Child) published on 8 October 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has just left to start primary school. She had the best 4 years at HDC and was so well prepared for school which made the transition so easy. The staff across her time here made her time really enjoyable and built great relationships with both our child and us as parents.
Reply from Angela Bailey, Head of Customer Experience at hdc Dartington
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We aim to ensure each child leaves nursery ready for school and with a love of learning. We are delighted to read how well your daughter has settled…read more
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Review from Jenny B (Mother of Child) published on 14 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We really couldn't be happier with HDC Dartmouth and would recommend it to any of our friends or family. Our daughter took a little while to settle but the staff were so positive, reactive to her needs and supportive to her (and us) while she worked it out. She now absolutely adores going and we love
to see how she is growing there. They are creative with activities, create a fun and inclusive environment and help us endlessly in working through these crazy toddler years! We can't wait to send our 2nd child come 2025.
Reply from Joanne Wright, Chief Marketing Officer at hdc Dartington
Thank you, that's really important for the team to hear. We'll be sure to pass this on to them.
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Review from Thomas L (Father of Child) published on 13 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We have two children who attend HDC Dartington. It’s a lovely setting with truly exceptional staff who care deeply about the happiness and progress of the children. Both our children are very settled and happy here in the Forest and Orchard rooms.
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Review from G A (Mother of Child) published on 13 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Lovely nursery. Really caring, kind staff. Lots of different activities offered and lots of time spent outdoors. They really took time to help our little boy settle in when he started and he loves going now.
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Review from Owen B (Father of Child) published on 12 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We’ve been really impressed by HDC Dartington. All the staff we’ve met have been very professional and I’m happy to have my son there.
A big shout out to a particular staff member who has been exceptional and made our experience really good.
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Review from Alex W (Father of Child) published on 11 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son has loved being in treetops and always talks positively about his days. Issues are resolved really well and communication at the end of the day is always really informative. Thanks so much to the team for making his experience so enjoyable.
Reply from Joanne Wright, Chief Marketing Officer at hdc Dartington
That's really kind to say, thank you very much, we'll let the team know.
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Review from Catherine R (Mother of Child) published on 11 March 2024 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son loved it and my daughter loves it still! The atmosphere the staff create is so warm and welcoming that both our kids have always been so happy to go in. The kids have loved sharing the great activities they do in the day and we really couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Thank you for making
their journey into school such a positive one.
Reply from Joanne Wright, Chief Marketing Officer at hdc Dartington
That's really kind to say, thank you very much, we'll let the team know.
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Current Review Score: 9.8 (9.800)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.8 (9.800) out of 10 for hdc Dartington is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.8 out of 5 from 21 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 21 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.800 for hdc Dartington is calculated as follows: ( (202 Excellents x 5) + (46 Goods x 4) + (2 Satisfactorys x 3) ) ÷ 250 Ratings = 4.8
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for hdc Dartington is based on 21 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 87 number of registered child places is 17.4, which has been reached with 21 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (5)

Meet the Team (1)

Melissa

Melissa Jordan

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2023

Hi! I'm Melissa and I'm the Nursery Manager here at hdc Dartington.


We look forward to welcoming you to our nursery!

Frequently Asked Questions about hdc Dartington

What is the Age Range of Children that hdc Dartington accepts?

hdc Dartington accepts Children aged from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months.

What Days & Hours is hdc Dartington Open?

hdc Dartington is open: Monday 07:30-18:00, Tuesday 07:30-18:00, Wednesday 07:30-18:00, Thursday 07:30-18:00, Friday 07:30-18:00.

How many Children does hdc Dartington have capacity for?

hdc Dartington has capacity for a total of 87 Children.

How far is hdc Dartington to the centre of Totnes?

1.5 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of daynurseries.co.uk. Please contact hdc Dartington to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. hdc Dartington has an Enhanced Service - more info.