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Nursery at Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Woodwork, welly walks and language woven into play give this pre-school its character. The nursery provision at Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First School includes children aged two, with the school’s early years curriculum organised through Skylark Class. Kindness and respect are the school’s chosen foundations for early learning, alongside a key person who takes responsibility for each child’s care.
This is a nursery day built around practical experiences. Children explore their surroundings, try ideas and talk about what they discover, with adults adding new words to those conversations.
Play shapes the curriculum, both inside the classroom and outdoors. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s learning and care: language, movement and relationships form the foundations, while early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world develop alongside them. Activities follow children’s interests as well as planned themes, giving adults opportunities to introduce ideas through something a child already wants to explore.
Songs, stories and nursery rhymes sit alongside adult guidance that expands children’s speech and explains unfamiliar words. Cornerstones projects introduce themed learning; PenPals for Handwriting supports fine motor skills. Woodwork adds another practical strand. These are concrete ways to connect talk with doing, rather than treating vocabulary as an isolated lesson.
The classroom has continuous access to an outside area. Welly walks extend learning into the rural surroundings, including visits to wild areas at the church. Half-term themes and seasonal events, such as harvest, provide further starting points for activities. Children can return to an idea as their understanding develops.
At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early years children used new vocabulary confidently, including when discussing mathematical ideas such as doubles. Children also picked up routines promptly and responded attentively to adults. Those findings give substance to the emphasis on communication and everyday habits.
A key person is assigned when a child starts in Skylark Class. That adult helps the child become familiar with the setting and develops a relationship with parents, while the wider team also supports learning and play. Time with the key person continues as children build relationships with other adults.
Settling begins with a visit, followed by a welcome pack and completed paperwork before taster sessions. The pre-school recommends two sessions each week to support settling. Tapestry provides individual online learning journals, allowing parents to follow progress and contribute their own observations. That keeps home experiences part of the conversation.
Hot lunches are optional and charged separately. Fairlands Middle School prepares the meals, which arrive at lunchtime; advance ordering is through ParentPay. Choices include a vegetarian main, with fruit or yogurt among the dessert options. Medical dietary menus, including dairy-free and gluten-free options, can be arranged. For additional needs, families can contact the school’s SENDCo through the office; the school aims to adapt provision to each child’s strengths and needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority using the Common Application Form, either online or on paper. Somerset Council is the home authority for Somerset residents; North Somerset Council is the route for families living there.
Treat that application as a separate task, even when your child already attends the nursery. Familiarity with the school and an application for a school place are different matters.
All-day, morning and afternoon sessions are offered, with availability discussed through the school office. Call 01934 742052 or email office@drsfirstschool.co.uk to arrange a visit and discuss your preferred pattern.
For eligible children, early years entitlement can be claimed from the term after their second or third birthday. Funding is term-time only, limited to a maximum of 8.5 hours daily and 15 hours weekly, or 30 hours for eligible children. Hours beyond the daily and weekly limits are chargeable; contact the school for current charges.
Breakfast club runs from 8:00am to 8:45am. After-school options run from 3:15pm to either 4:30pm or 5:30pm. These hours count towards the same funding limits, so the whole booking pattern matters when planning childcare.
Yes. The school has nursery provision for two-year-olds.
Families are offered a visit and a welcome pack, with paperwork completed before taster sessions. Each child in Skylark Class has a key person, and the pre-school recommends two sessions a week to help settling.
Yes. The classroom has continuous access to an outdoor area, with welly walks and visits to church wild areas extending learning beyond it.
Yes, at an additional charge. Meals are ordered in advance through ParentPay, and special dietary requirements or medical needs can be catered for by arrangement.
No. Families apply separately using a Common Application Form through their home local authority.
