Embleton Vincent Edwards Church of England Primary School Nursery

Playdough, dancing and trips to the beach give this nursery its character. Children can join from their third birthday, becoming part of the school's Starfish early years class in Embleton. It is nursery provision within a Church of England primary school, with learning that follows children's interests.

We hold no published inspection grade for it.

Children's interests shape the themes in Starfish. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas: physical development, communication, personal and social development, literacy, maths, understanding the world and expressive arts. In parent terms, learning includes talking, moving, building relationships, exploring ideas and creating things. The school aims to adapt activities to children's stage of development, with opportunities to extend learning or work on skills at their own pace.

Mornings include Read Write Inc or communication and language activities, alongside Big Maths. Time for children to choose activities sits alongside sessions led by adults. The woodwork area has hammers and nails; children can also make cakes in the cooking area and mix paint in the creative area. Choosing materials and tools gives independence a practical form. Outdoor space is accessible daily for children who want to use it, while weekly Rainbow Challenges encourage them to try activities across different learning areas, with certificates for completion.

Movement is part of early writing. In Squiggle While You Wiggle, nursery children dance with pieces of fabric, then turn the movements into marks using pens or crayons. Daily Dough Disco in Starfish involves squeezing, rolling and flattening playdough to music, with the aim of preparing hands for writing. Helicopter Stories gives children another way to express ideas: an adult records their invented story, then they act it out. Poetry Basket adds daily recitation, with a new poem each week and actions to help children remember it.

Beach School takes place weekly across the school. On 11 September 2025, Starfish children watched a digger shifting sand, heard Peekaboo Under the Sea and made striped fish using fingers, spades and rakes. That example connects a story with physical exploration and making marks in sand.

Starfish has an EYFS class teacher who also serves as Head of School, and a class teaching assistant. The school welcomes contact through an open door approach, giving parents a route to raise concerns.

For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school plans early identification and a response to parents' concerns about development. Its early years support uses the local authority's Inclusion Wheel toolkit within an assess, plan, do, review cycle. This means identifying needs, agreeing support, putting it into practice and checking progress. Parents are informed when special educational provision is made. For pupils receiving SEND support, the class teacher and SENCo plan meetings with parents three times each year, so families can contribute to outcomes and reviews.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the Local Authority Reception Entry Application. Applications open on 1 November before the year of entry and close at the end of the following January; allocations are notified in April of the entry year. Keep that application separate from nursery booking, even if your child is already attending Starfish.

Sessions are booked in blocks: mornings run from 8.40am to noon, afternoons from noon to 3.10pm, and full days from 8.40am to 3.10pm. These give families a choice between a shorter session and the school day.

Funded nursery places offer up to 30 hours. There may be scope to use part of that entitlement for wraparound care beyond the school day, subject to discussion of individual requirements. Treat this as a possible arrangement when planning childcare.

Email admin@embletonschool.uk for a Nursery Application Form. Prospective parents and carers are welcome to visit. Nursery places are allocated in application order.