Little Owls Nursery at Ixworth Church of England Primary School

Making a model village and sharing books with family give Little Owls its own character: early learning starts with familiar places, conversation and stories. This is the nursery within Ixworth Church of England Primary School on Crown Lane. Children can start in the term after their second birthday, bringing the school’s early learning provision into reach from age two.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 17 and 18 May 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school.

Language runs through the nursery’s activities. Children have opportunities to talk with others, explore reading and begin writing through mark making. These are connected experiences: conversation gives children something to express, while marks offer an early way to put ideas on paper. Small world play includes making a village, giving children a familiar subject to explore through models.

Books connect nursery and home. Reading is encouraged from the nursery onwards, and families receive guidance about supporting it at home. Reading logs let parents record that shared experience for staff to recognise. Family reading has also taken place in Little Owls, bringing adults into children’s reading activities.

In May 2022, early years adults were well trained and emphasised accurate vocabulary across learning. For parents, the useful distinction is that language development extends beyond a separate reading activity.

Early Years Practitioners staff the nursery. Links with families and Health Visitors form part of its support, alongside early intervention. Language Links is a named approach used by trained staff to assess and support early years children who have difficulty understanding language. It gives language comprehension its own place in the support offered.

For concerns about additional needs, parents can speak to their child’s teacher or the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO). The SENCO oversees support and progress across the school. Ixworth describes adapting teaching, resources and its environment to reduce barriers to learning, with adjustments to the curriculum, buildings and grounds. That gives families a clear starting point for discussing their child’s needs.

A nursery place does not guarantee admission to the school. Families must make a separate Reception application through Suffolk County Council. Treat this as a further application, rather than an automatic continuation of the nursery place.

The nursery describes transition support alongside links with parents and Health Visitors. That support is separate from the decision about admission.

Little Owls opens five days each week, from 8.45am to 3.30pm. Requested sessions depend on availability: a nursery place may be possible even when the preferred sessions are full, in which case alternatives are discussed. This distinction matters when fitting nursery around work or other childcare.

Applications use a nursery form, returned by email to ixworth@tilian.org.uk. Families can also contact the school office on 01359 230228, at Crown Lane, Ixworth, IP31 2EL. The school welcomes enquiries about visits through the office.

Childcare beyond the nursery day. Breakfast Club accepts children from Reception to Year 6, while Playzone starts at Reception. These clubs therefore do not extend the day for nursery children.