Appledore School Nursery Review

A woodland learning area and artwork displayed alongside older children’s creations give Appledore’s nursery its character: exploration and making things are part of the provision, rather than occasional extras. Nursery children enter the school’s Foundation Stage Unit, placing their early learning within the primary school setting.

Appledore School takes children from age three. At the Ofsted inspection on 11 and 12 July 2023, early years provision received a Good judgement. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. The early years findings described successful learning, with language development, independence and curiosity central to children’s experiences.

Morning, afternoon and full-day sessions give families three ways to organise attendance. Within those sessions, the nursery follows the statutory Early Years framework. The concrete emphasis is on children learning to communicate, investigate and develop their own ideas. In July 2023, children explored magnetism by testing materials and considering why they behaved differently. This gives a practical picture of learning through questions and discovery.

Creative work has visible space here. The school gallery displays nursery artwork as well as work from older year groups, and the site has an art studio beside a woodland outdoor classroom. Painting, sculpture and work with textiles sit among the school’s creative strands, giving children different materials through which to express ideas.

Outdoors, the woodland contains an area specifically for early years learning, alongside a pond and firepit. All classes have outdoor learning with qualified forest school teachers. The wider grounds also include an orchard and polytunnel, making the school site a setting for environmental learning as well as classroom activities.

A September 2025 newsletter gives a more domestic example: Turtles and Dolphins discussed their families and homes, designed houses and made faces using materials including wool and clay. Familiar experiences become starting points for conversation and creative work. Reading also extends home: in July 2023, early years children were taking home books for bedtime sharing.

Food brought into school needs to respect Appledore’s nut-free policy. This is a practical consideration for families preparing food for their child.

For additional needs, the school uses a graduated response, moving from support within everyday teaching to targeted help and, where necessary, specialist provision. This describes how support is organised, rather than a promise that every need is met equally well. SEND support. In July 2023, the whole-school findings included delays in recognising some needs and learning targets that needed greater precision. Families should weigh that concern alongside the stated support structure.

The same whole-school findings called for closer checks on how some subjects were taught. These concerns apply at school level and should not be read as separate nursery judgements.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Appledore’s admissions page directs Reception applicants to Devon local authority guidance, so nursery enrolment and the later school application need to be treated as separate decisions.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, full days from 9am to 3.30pm, and afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Morning entry to the Foundation Stage Unit is at 8.55am. Those different finishing times matter when organising collection and family work patterns.

Green nursery sweatshirts and polo shirts with the school logo are encouraged, but optional. To enquire or arrange a look around, contact the school on 01237 474365 or email admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk and make an appointment.