Cherry Nursery at St John the Evangelist

Weekly Forest School gives Cherry Nursery a clear outdoor thread, alongside play, drawing and early number work. This is the nursery at St John the Evangelist CofE VA Primary School on Bluebell Way in Carterton, within the school’s early years provision for children aged 3–5. Its Church of England setting also shapes learning about what matters to children and their families.

Play leads the approach. Adults plan activities around children’s interests, combining opportunities to explore independently with guided learning. For parents, that means a curriculum built around both children’s choices and skills adults want to develop.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) starts with learning to communicate, move confidently and manage feelings and relationships. Reading and writing, maths, creative work and learning about the world build on those foundations. Here, even snack time becomes a chance to practise sharing or counting, so learning runs through ordinary routines rather than sitting apart from them.

Drawing Club, phonics, physical play and daily maths feature in the early years curriculum. Activities can be adjusted to individual children, and staff use observations to decide what support comes next. These are recognisable activities with a clear learning purpose.

Indoor and outdoor spaces support exploration. Nursery children have Forest School each week, using the school’s outdoor learning area with a teacher trained in the programme. This gives outdoor learning a regular place in the week. Religious education also starts from things young children find special, connecting familiar experiences with questions about faith and community.

Tapestry gives parents a window into early years learning through shared experiences, achievements and developmental milestones; an end-of-year report adds a fuller account. EYFS stay-and-play sessions also bring parents and children together. These offer ways to understand learning beyond a brief conversation at collection.

Additional support sits within the school’s SEND arrangements. Children’s needs are assessed regularly, with classroom provision and smaller-group interventions recorded in a pupil profile. For children on the SEND register, parents and children help agree outcomes and review progress three times each school year. The SEND coordinator works with teaching staff and specialists, including speech therapy and occupational therapy, giving families a route into coordinated support.

Across the school, Dolce cooks meals on site and SchoolGrid handles ordering and allergen information. This is a school-wide arrangement. The school also asks families choosing packed lunches to provide balanced food.

Attending Cherry Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The school office handles enquiries and requests to visit. Contact office.2613@st-john.oxon.sch.uk or 01993 843124 to arrange a school visit. The nursery is on Bluebell Way, Shilton Park, Carterton, OX18 1JF.

On school grounds, bicycles and scooters must be pushed after dismounting at the gate. This is a practical collection and drop-off rule for families travelling on wheels.