Supporting Student Parents: Our New Collaboration with Tops Day Nurseries
Thursday 5th March 2026 by Dr Tamara Al-Khalili
We are delighted to share some exciting news with our Student and Families Support Group, our new collaboration with Tops Day Nurseries (Exeter Branch).
For student parents, juggling lectures, deadlines, placements, and research alongside childcare responsibilities can feel overwhelming. That is why strong, trusted partnerships between nurseries and university support networks matter so much. When childcare is reliable, safe, and genuinely supportive, student parents can focus on their studies, progress, and thrive without the constant worry of âwhat if something goes wrong?â Collaboration also means better communication and smoother support when challenges arise, helping families feel reassured and included, not isolated.
This partnership with Tops Exeter Day Nursery is about more than convenience. It is about building a supportive environment where student parents feel confident that their children are cared for by a professional team in a setting that values learning, wellbeing, and community.
We were delighted to join Tops Exeterâs official opening event on Saturday 24 January and to celebrate the beginning of this relationship together. The event was a truly lovely occasion- warm, welcoming, and full of positive energy. There was catering inspired by their award-winning menus, plenty of fun activities for children and families, and a great opportunity to meet local parents and members of the wider community. It was also a chance to see first-hand the environment Tops is creating: friendly, engaging, and thoughtfully designed for young children to learn and enjoy their day.
Most importantly, this opening marked the start of what we believe will be a meaningful collaboration. As we begin working more closely together, our goal is to strengthen the support available to student parents and reduce the pressure that often comes with managing family responsibilities alongside academic life.
We are also pleased to share that this collaboration offers very good rates and affordable options, supporting both home and international students. We know affordability is a major factor especially with rising living costs and we want student parents to have access to childcare that feels financially realistic, not out of reach.
Over the coming weeks, we will share more details about how student parents can benefit from this partnership, including how to express interest, ask questions, and explore the options available.
For now, we want to say a big thank you to Tops Day Nursery for the warm welcome, and to our student parents, who inspire us every day with your determination, resilience, and commitment to both your studies and your families.
In a statement from TOPS:
âTops Day Nurseries, based on our University campus, is offering our international students a 5% subsidy when we reserve a space with them. You will only need to pay your deposit with your first invoice, so there are no upfront payments â making it as easy as possible to arrange your childcare and giving you one less thing to worry about (T&Cs apply).â
We are excited about what lies ahead, and we are proud to be building this support together
A Joyful Close to the Summer Term â PAFS BBQ Outing 2025
By Dr Tamara Al-Khalili
On Saturday 12th July, we wrapped up our summer term events with a joyful BBQ trip to Shillingford Organic Farm School. As the current lead of the PAFS group, I was thrilled to organise this special day, which brought together around 60 student parents and their families from across various departments at the university. It was a wonderful day out in nature, marking the end of another busy and often demanding academic term.
I chose Shillingford Organic Farm not only for its stunning green space and welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere, but also because itâs run by one of our valued members, Fatma Sabet. Fatma always greets us with warmth and generously invites us to her workshops and events. Visiting her farm is more than just a relaxing day out. It is an enriching, sensory experience. Children had the freedom to run, play, and connect with nature, while their parents could unwind, socialise, and simply breathe.
For many of our members, especially those living far from their home countries, the farm offers a comforting sense of grounding and belonging. One child summed it up beautifully, joyfully asking, âWhen is the next trip? I canât wait, itâs so much fun!â Moments like these remind us exactly why this community matters so deeply, and why these gatherings are worth every bit of the effort and time it takes to organise them. All the planning and logistics fade into the background when we see the smiles, hear the laughter, and feel the gratitude from everyone who joins us.
This outing was also deeply meaningful because we celebrated one of our inspiring leads, Silvia, who successfully completed her PhD this year and is graduating this summer. Congratulations, Dr Silvia Nassar! You did it with three children. It was a lovely moment to reflect on her journey and to thank her for the energy and care she has brought to our group.
We also took time to honour the roots of our community by recognising the unwavering efforts of Lyndsey Carmicheal, the founder of PAFS. Alongside Ibhade Akpede and myself, we have worked through many challenges to keep this group going strong. It is this shared resilience and care that makes our community what it is a space of support, friendship, and understanding.
Our BBQ outing was the perfect way to unwind, connect, and celebrate all that we have achieved this term. While transportation can often be a barrier for members who do not drive, we were incredibly grateful to the Studentsâ Guild for their support in providing transport for the day. Their help made the event more accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Hereâs to many more beautiful gatherings and the continued support that keeps our community strong and open to more studentsâ parents.
I’ll leave you with a few photos that capture the joy, laughter, and special moments we sharedâtrue reflections of the spirit of the day đ!
A special thanks to Jessica Eades from the Student Guild and supporting this even through community funding.
Tamara Al Khalili
PAFS Lead
