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Nursery at Otterton Church of England Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories and the first steps in phonics give Otterton’s preschool its clearest character. Nursery provision forms part of Otterton Church of England Primary School, a state primary on Church Hill in Otterton. The school belongs to Link Academy Trust, connecting this school nursery with support organised across the trust’s primary academies.
Listening to stories begins in preschool, alongside the start of phonics teaching. In June 2023, children enjoyed varied stories, and staff used a consistent method for teaching phonics. For a parent choosing the nursery, that gives a concrete sense of the learning: hearing stories and beginning to work with sounds are part of the preschool experience.
Language also has a practical purpose. In the early years in June 2023, children used vocabulary about plant-eating animals to create dinosaur menus. This was an early-years example, rather than a nursery-only activity, but it shows the connection between learning new words and using them in writing. Dinosaurs supplied the subject; vocabulary supplied the tools.
Mathematics provided another foundation. In June 2023, the sequence of mathematics learning helped children develop knowledge starting in the early years. Together, these examples put stories, language and mathematical learning at the centre of the evidenced early-years experience.
Additional-needs support has a trust-wide structure. Link Academy Trust’s Inclusion & Improvement Hub supports its academies and families whose children have additional needs. Its work includes helping schools prepare education, health and care plans, identifying external specialists and connecting schools with Plymouth MAST. These are routes to specialist advice beyond an individual school’s staff team.
Plymouth MAST contributes educational psychology and specialist counselling services to that partnership. Parents are involved when hub support is planned, so next steps and the proposed provision can be discussed with the family.
The trust team includes a Director of Inclusion, a Trust SEND Lead, a hub lead and a Therapeutic Lead. The Director of Inclusion has an early-years specialism and counselling qualifications for work with children and young people. These are trust roles, rather than a description of the nursery’s daily staffing. Their relevance is the expertise available to support schools with additional needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two separate decisions, even though the nursery is attached to Otterton.
The school is on Church Hill, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, EX9 7HU. For nursery enquiries, telephone 01395568326. Ask the school for current charges before committing to a place.
Yes. Nursery provision forms part of Otterton Church of England Primary School.
Yes. In June 2023, phonics teaching began in preschool, where children also enjoyed listening to stories.
In June 2023, children used their knowledge of plant-eating animals to write dinosaur menus. This example concerns the early years as a whole.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the normal admissions process.
Telephone the school on 01395568326.
