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Nursery at Avishayes Community 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Rabbit Class combines teacher-led nursery education with play indoors and outside. It takes children aged three and four and belongs to Avishayes Community Primary School’s Early Years Centre in Chard, on Fairway Rise. Nursery children share the setting with Owl Class, giving them familiarity with the surroundings before the next stage of school.
At the inspection on 8 and 9 October 2024, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. This judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. The curriculum and established routines were strengths of that provision.
Play shapes the learning. Children take part in activities guided by adults as well as ones they choose themselves, with opportunities to investigate, solve problems and develop creative ideas. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework: here, learning through play supports children’s communication, social development and growing independence.
Staff observe children playing and use their interests and needs to plan what comes next. That gives individual interests a role in the session rather than treating every child’s learning as identical. Speech and language receive specific attention across EYFS, alongside vocabulary and listening. For parents, this puts the ability to communicate alongside the more visible activities children bring home or talk about.
Indoor learning is paired with outdoor exploration. An outdoor classroom serves Early Years, while the school’s grounds include vegetable-growing beds and a wildlife area with a sensory garden. These give outdoor learning a physical setting beyond a playground. In October 2024, early years learning had clear purpose, children enjoyed playing together, and staff used phonics checks to tackle gaps in knowledge.
Daily conversations are built into the Early Years arrangement. Parents can speak with teachers when bringing children in and collecting them, and information boards explain that day’s learning opportunities. Tapestry Journal also supports communication across the school: parents have a child-specific login, can see activities and can leave comments for the teacher. It gives families another way to follow learning between conversations.
An Early Years SENDCO works alongside the school SENDCO. Support follows a cycle of identifying needs, planning help and reviewing its effect, using the Somerset Graduated Response Tool. SEN support plans are reviewed each term and shared with parents, so families have a defined role in discussing progress. The school site has ramps, lifts in the hall and two accessible toilets.
For food, the school’s lunchtime arrangement offers cooked meals or a packed lunch brought from home, with children eating in the hall. Teaching assistants and lunchtime supervisors oversee this part of the day. These are school arrangements rather than a separate nursery meal programme.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the normal deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as separate decisions.
Familiarity still has practical value. Rabbit Class shares its setting with Owl Class, and Early Years staff work together on the move into school. Preparation for Owl Class includes Play-to-Learn sessions and a Starting School meeting for families. Early Years staff also offer a home visit. These opportunities introduce the staff and learning environment; they do not secure admission.
Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from noon to 3pm. From the term after a child’s third birthday, the nursery offers 15 funded hours each week during term time. Families can combine sessions to suit them, subject to spaces. Eligible parents can access 30 funded hours.
Additional sessions are charged. Ask the school for current charges. One month’s notice is required to change sessions or leave, which matters when planning changes to childcare.
Nursery applications go through the school office, where Early Years application packs can be collected. Visits can be arranged by calling 01460 63050; enquiries can also go to office@avishayes.co.uk.
Children can join from age three. Rabbit Class is the nursery provision for three- and four-year-olds.
The morning session is 9am to noon, and the afternoon session is noon to 3pm.
The nursery offers 15 funded hours per week during term time from the term after a child’s third birthday. Parents who qualify can access 30 hours; session combinations depend on spaces.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee admission to Reception, and families need to apply separately through the normal admissions process.
Call the school office on 01460 63050 to arrange an appointment.
