Ashleigh CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, shared play and the small triumph of managing a coat give Ashleigh’s nursery its character. Children can join from age three, within the school’s Ashlings early years provision in Barnstaple. This is an on-site nursery managed by school leaders, with an early years team that includes a lead teacher and a cover supervisor.

The early years provision received a Good judgement at Ofsted’s September 2022 inspection. Nursery-specific findings included storytelling that developed children’s language and group routines that helped them practise listening and sharing. Those are useful foundations for a child beginning to learn alongside others.

Play provides the starting point for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. In parent language, learning connects communication, movement and relationships with early reading, maths, creativity and discovering how the world works. Children explore patterns and quantities through practical activities, use stories and songs to develop language, and experiment with materials to express ideas.

Ashleigh also uses the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning to shape activities and adult interactions. These focus on exploration, keeping going with a challenge and testing ideas. The practical emphasis is on children trying things, returning to a task and finding their own solutions, rather than simply completing an adult’s instructions.

Reading has named routines. Read Write Inc. Phonics is used, with daily phonics teaching beginning in nursery. Favourite Four introduces four books each half term for repeated reading during group story sessions. Familiarity gives children opportunities to join in and recognise language; the selection also includes books that support understanding of numbers.

In September 2022, nursery children practised listening and sharing during carpet sessions. Early years learning also included older local residents sharing recollections of toys, giving children a concrete way to explore differences between the past and present.

Settling begins with opportunities to become familiar with the setting. Guided tours and stay-and-play sessions are offered, while the Ashlings team learns about children’s interests and what reassures them. Parents contribute that knowledge through conversations, updates and check-ins, helping staff connect home routines with nursery life.

Toileting support is practical. Children who are still learning receive reminders and help with clothing, wiping and handwashing, with an approach agreed with their family. Independence also gets attention through everyday skills such as managing shoes, opening a drinks bottle and using cutlery.

For additional needs, the school uses My Plans to record individual support, with termly reviews involving parents. Its wider support network includes Nursery Plus and Early Years Complex Needs. A disabled parking bay and multi-use toilets are physical features of the school site that may matter to families discussing access.

School lunches follow a menu rotating over three weeks, refreshed three times annually. An alternative menu caters for specific dietary needs, and an allergen log helps families assess individual dishes. Advance lunch payments use Arbor where a child does not qualify for free meals and the family chooses a school-provided lunch.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority; Devon residents can use Devon’s online application route. The normal-round closing date is 15 January.

For the 2025–26 admissions cycle, nursery attendance carried no Reception priority. Treat nursery choice and the later school application as separate decisions. Transition support is a different matter: the school’s arrangements include move-up days, handovers and enhanced activities for children needing additional preparation. These help manage change; they do not determine admission.

Nursery applications go directly to the school. Visits can be arranged by calling 01271 345149 or emailing ashleigh@thsp.org.uk, giving families a straightforward first contact with the administration team.

Ashlings collection uses the driveway route to the classroom. Families can nominate another collecting adult by completing a form through the school office, so that arrangement can be agreed in advance.