St Peter's Anglican / Methodist VC Primary Nursery Review

Beans growing in the classroom, a sand pit outdoors and stories turned into role play give St Peter's Nursery its character. Children investigate, make things and practise looking after themselves. This is the school's own nursery in Pilning, with school grounds extending the possibilities for play beyond the room.

September 2025 marked its opening. During its first year, nursery children joined school celebrations, including the harvest festival, giving them opportunities to participate in school life alongside their nursery activities.

A focus book connects stories with practical exploration. Jack and The Beanstalk prompted bean planting, investigations inside beans and comparisons of height. Children retold the tale with stick puppets and acted it out in Jack's house. The story became something to handle, measure and perform.

The Den changes with the learning: it has become a veterinary surgery after Dear Zoo and Granny's cottage after Little Red Riding Hood. A dark den with torches and silhouette puppets accompanied Owl Babies. These spaces give children concrete props for imaginative play and storytelling.

Number work also has a practical shape. Magic Maths has explored capacity through words such as full and empty. Children have compared dinosaur bones by size and made repeating patterns with pretend ice cream scoops. Fun Phonics includes rhythm, sounds and alliteration, bringing listening and language into the activities.

Outside, the mud kitchen, water play and forest school area offer different materials to explore. Children have planted seeds at the allotments and watered vegetables, linking weather with plant growth. The sand pit also creates chances to practise independence: children have taken off and replaced their own socks and shoes.

Small movements receive attention too. Threading laces, working with scissors and manipulating playdough exercise fingers; fruit chopping turns that practice into something children can eat. Learning here takes several forms, even within one story theme.

Feelings are explored through stories and conversation. The Colour Monster has supported discussions about emotions, including after a half-term break when the focus returned to wellbeing and settling back into school. The Kindness Jar rewards kind acts with gems towards a shared treat, making consideration for others tangible.

Food also becomes an activity. Children have prepared and eaten autumn soup, practising peeling and cutting, and tried different porridge flavours while discussing healthy breakfasts. These are examples of tasting and preparation woven into learning.

For additional needs, the school's approach starts with discussion. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher and then the SENCo if concerns continue. The school aims to identify learning needs early and monitor progress. Its single-level layout, wheelchair access, accessible toilet facilities and disabled parking are practical features for families considering access.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process to their home local authority. For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026; that cycle is now past.

Shared activities are a separate benefit from admissions. Nursery children joined Reception and Years 1 and 2 for a Christmas party during their first year. This gives children experience of social activities with older pupils, rather than an assurance of a future place.

The school office handles enquiries by email at office@stpetersprimary.co.uk or by telephone on 01454 631137. School tours can be arranged through the same contact routes, giving families a direct way to visit before deciding.