Nursery
Our Nursery is a lively and spacious, well-resourced setting. Our experienced staff are dedicated to ensuring that the children have the best experience in their first steps of learning. Creative opportunities abound in all areas of the Continuous Provision.
Please contact Chulmleigh Primary School with any Nursery enquiries:
Tel: 01769 580535
Email: admin@chulmleigh-primary.devon.sch.uk
Children can start with us from the age of 2 and sessions can be on a fee-paying basis or funded, depending on the age or eligibility of the child.
We aim to provide an environment where:
- Everyone feels safe and secure in a well-planned learning environment both indoors and outdoors
- High quality care and education is consistent
- Each child’s individuality is valued, and their achievements celebrated
- Independence is promoted, giving children the opportunity to make their own choices
- Respectful relationships are nurtured
- Children are encouraged to explore and investigate the world around them, and share their thoughts and experiences.
- We provide a rich language environment where communication is key
The Learning Environment
The spacious Early Years setting for all Nursery and Reception children, consists of:
Reception teaching area; Continuous Provision; Nursery; Conservatory and a large outdoor area.
Reception Area
The Reception teaching area specifically supports the teaching of phonics, writing and maths.
The Continuous Provision Room
This is where the children can explore their creative flair through cut and stick, paint, role play, construction, maths area or enjoy sitting quietly in the Library area.
The Nursery Room
Here activities are tailored towards the younger children to investigate their sensory needs through:
- Messy play and Writedance (making marks to music)
- Curiosity Corner – children can explore natural sensory resources, the seasons or even become young scientists through planned exploration activities: from melting ice or chocolate, to lifecycles and growing plants.
- Chatter Box Corner - where we promote language and communication development and early emotional literacy.
- Happy Hollow - where the children can practise being kind and helpful, earning themselves jewels for their kindness buckets, and participating in imaginative and heuristic play.
The Conservatory
This is where lots of small world play goes on, including a mini-beast area, a colourful caterpillar where the children can build on their gross motor skills and physical development, and a huge walk-in dinosaur sandpit.
The Outdoor Area
There is a well-resourced play area providing a wide variety of play opportunities for the children. Including: wheeled toys; balance beams; bats and balls; sandpit; water trough with waterways and pump system; potions tray; superhero shed; bug hotel and small garden area, and a huge role-play shed in the construction area and a glorious mud kitchen.
There is also a poly tunnel which has a small section for Nursery and Reception children to grow plants and vegetables in. This is the area where Bonnie, our resident ‘Thrive’ miniature pony lives, and children are able to groom and pet her under adult supervision. We also have guinea pigs that the children can help to look after.
The Nursery Day
On arrival, children are welcomed by staff and are encouraged to choose an activity to settle themselves into the day. Once all the children have arrived, they join in with a welcome circle time - where they sing and sign hello to each other, talk about the day of the week, the weather and share any other news they may wish to talk about. In the Continuous Provision there is a wide range of activities, both inside and outside, available for the children to choose from.
There are also more structured periods of the day, such as circle times, Let’s Talk, Whizzy Wizard Maths, singing, Write Dance, music and movement and story times. A mid-morning snack of fruit, water or milk is provided for all children, and water is always available throughout the day from the drink station.
When the weather is dry and warm enough, the children have lunch outside. Weekly ‘Woody Wonders’ (outdoor education) sessions are a highlight. Children learn about the natural world around them and develop problem-solving skills as well as learning about fire safety and how to work in teams. Our on-site polytunnel also enables the children to learn all about growing flowers and vegetables and how to look after plants. Nursery children join up with the Reception children to take part in a weekly yoga session.
Sessions Times, Funding & Costs
Morning session: 9am-12pm or 1pm, depending on whether your child stays for lunch.
Afternoon session: 1pm-3.30pm.
Full day: 9am-3.30pm
Wraparound care is also available from 8-9am and from 3.30-6pm.
For information whether your 2-year-old child is eligible for funded childcare, please click here.
All 3- and 4-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of funding. Some children of working parents may be eligible for extra funded early education and childcare. For more information, please click here.
The cost for sessions in addition to any funded time is £5.50 per hour for 2-year-olds and £5.00 per hour for 3-4-year-olds. Please see our Nursery Payment Policy below:
Key Person
Both our experienced nursery staff are responsible for supporting all the children through their learning journey within the Nursery; through observing, planning and implementing a differentiated curriculum that is tailored to each child’s needs. They are always available to discuss any achievements, WOW moments or to share any other news about your child.
The Curriculum
Learning through play enables children to follow their own interests and investigate new challenges. Our well-planned, stimulating and exciting curriculum allows children to develop their confidence in trying new things and extending their experiences from home, while enjoying a happy day of play, making new friends and generally building their confidence. Progress is managed by careful observation and recording, and planning for next steps is developed accordingly.
Carefully tailored structured times ensure that early intervention can be put in place for any children who we recognise as needing additional support. Number, shape and mark-making opportunities are available in every area of the Continuous Provision, and story times together are a feature of each day.
The curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning and development, and from this the activities in the Foundation Stage are planned. These areas are:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Sharing Information About Your Child’s Learning and Development
We celebrate children’s learning successes using Tapestry, an online learning journal. Parents are also able to share home learning with school staff using this platform, so that all learning can be celebrated.
If Early Years staff have any concerns with your child’s learning, development or behaviour, they will contact you to share these.
At the end of Nursery before your child starts Reception you will receive a report outlining your child’s achievements and their Marvellous Me Learning Journal.
We Welcome Visits
We love to show off our wonderful provision and welcome visits from prospective parents. We find that this is the most important start to your child’s experience into nursery.
If you would like to book a visit, please email admin@chulmleigh-primary.devon.sch.uk or phone the school on 01769 580535. If you are thinking further ahead, we would also be delighted to show you around our fabulous school too.
Please click here to see our Nursery Admissions Policy
Please click here to see our Nursery Payment Policy