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Nursery at Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School and Pre-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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sound games, outdoor exploration and children's own ideas shape the pre-school day at Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School and Pre-School. Known as Little Acorns, this school-attached provision includes children aged two and three. Its identity is rooted in early learning through play, with adults joining activities to develop children's thinking.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at its November 2022 inspection; this was an early-years judgement within the school inspection, rather than a separate nursery rating. The findings combined established routines and positive social interaction with a specific concern about children having enough practice to understand ideas deeply.
Adult-guided learning sits alongside activities children choose themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives this a clear purpose: developing conversation, movement and relationships, alongside early number skills, literacy, creativity and understanding of the world. Activities respond to individual interests and development, rather than expecting every child to follow an identical path.
Classrooms and an outdoor learning area provide space for independent exploration. Staff arrange equipment and resources around children's next learning steps, then spend time alongside them during play. Observation informs what comes next. This connects a child's chosen activity with teaching that extends it.
Letters and Sounds Phase 1 brings listening into play through voices, instruments, environmental sounds, rhyme and words with matching initial sounds. In the summer term, Read Write Inc introduces Fred talk games, which help children combine spoken sounds into words. Children also encounter Set 1 pictures and sound symbols, alongside recognising their own names.
In November 2022, children generally learned successfully, understood routines and managed sharing and turn-taking. Adult questions developed vocabulary and encouraged thought. Time to revisit learning. Children sometimes moved on before practising ideas sufficiently, limiting their depth of understanding. Repetition and opportunities to return to earlier learning therefore deserve attention when considering the nursery day.
Tapestry connects learning at nursery with home. Parents can receive observations through its app and contribute photographs and comments themselves. Conversations, discussion of next steps and parents' evenings add opportunities to understand progress beyond individual snapshots.
For children between two and three, staff provide a written developmental summary when this pre-school is the setting where they spend most of their time. It identifies strengths and areas needing attention. In November 2022, parents responding to the inspection survey valued how quickly their children settled into pre-school.
The school's SEND support includes individual targets, additional equipment, small-group work and individual help, with a federation SEND coordinator and a school assistant coordinator available to discuss concerns. A Little Acorns safeguarding lead provides a specific contact within the provision.
School meals are cooked on site, with fresh local ingredients used when available. Families select menus through Parentpay, connecting meal choices with the school's ordering system.
Attending Little Acorns does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority's normal admissions process. Nursery attendance is not among the school's listed oversubscription priorities, so it does not itself confer priority under those criteria.
Across the EYFS, staff meet to discuss children's development and plan subsequent learning around their needs and interests. That supports continuity in teaching; it is separate from the allocation of Reception places.
Enquiries can go to the school office on 01392 841279 or admin@stokecanon.devon.sch.uk. School visits can be arranged by appointment and include a guided tour, giving families an opportunity to meet the school before choosing its pre-school.
The provision includes children aged two and three.
Letters and Sounds Phase 1 uses listening, rhyme and sound games. Read Write Inc begins in the summer term of pre-school, including Fred talk oral blending games.
Tapestry shares observations and accepts contributions from home. Staff also discuss next steps through conversations and parents' evenings.
No. A separate application is required through the normal local authority route, and nursery attendance is not included in the school's listed oversubscription priorities.
Contact the school on 01392 841279 or admin@stokecanon.devon.sch.uk. Visits with a guided school tour can be booked by appointment.
