St Martin's Nursery: Little Parrots

Mud-kitchen play, storytelling and a weekly forest session give Little Parrots its character. This is the nursery within St Martin's CofE Primary & Nursery School in Cranbrook, with a qualified teacher leading the provision alongside qualified nursery and early years practitioners. Teaching and play sit together here.

Children are mainly aged 3–4, with a small number of places also offered in the term before their third birthday. The nursery operates during term time. Its school setting has a Christian ethos: St Martin's describes emotional wellbeing as a priority and names kindness, hope and love among its values.

Open-ended play shapes the early years approach, with adults helping children extend their ideas. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas: friendships and emotions, communication, physical development, literacy, maths, understanding the world and creative expression. In parent terms, learning to share and listen belongs alongside counting, stories and making things.

Outdoor provision has concrete substance. Children can mix ingredients in the mud kitchen, investigate the digging pit, experiment with water and sand, search for minibeasts and build with large wooden blocks. These give them different ways to explore materials, movement and imaginative play. Weekly forest school adds practical activities using natural resources, while weekly hall sessions include larger equipment for physical development.

Stories are an organising thread. Children learn tales to retell and use props to develop their storytelling; role play, painting, making and small-world play offer further opportunities to express ideas. Number learning uses adult-supported games, rhymes and stories, with exploration both outdoors and in the classroom. Listening activities support communication, and the early years practitioners have additional speech and language training. The emphasis is on learning through things children can do, say and try.

Family communication includes an open-door approach and termly workshops explaining children's learning and how to continue it at home. That gives parents a practical connection to the nursery's play-based approach, rather than leaving learning within the classroom.

For additional needs, the school's support structure moves from classroom adjustments to targeted small-group or individual interventions, then personalised specialist provision for significant and persistent needs despite appropriate interventions and support. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher or SENDCo team. Support plans are developed with families and reviewed as children's needs change, giving parents a role in decisions about adjustments and interventions.

Families receiving SEND support have opportunities for formal discussions with the class teacher at least twice a year. External agency involvement is discussed with parents beforehand. A Family Advocate also helps families access support, including assistance with household expenses or housing matters. This extends the available contact routes beyond teaching staff.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Devon County Council's Admissions Team, using its online application route or application forms, and meet the normal Reception application deadline. Nursery applications are handled separately by the Nursery Administrator. Treat the two applications as distinct decisions when planning your child's next step.

Little Parrots opens from 8:30am to 3:00pm during term time. Additional care before and after school hours is available through FISH, giving families an option beyond the nursery's opening hours.

Fees are invoiced in advance each term; contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries and tour bookings can be made on 01404 515409. The school is on Younghayes Road, Cranbrook, EX5 7DT, and its main email is stmartins@thsp.org.uk.