St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Exmouth: Nursery Review

A Foundation Stage Unit and an on-site Forest School give this nursery its school setting. St Joseph's takes rising three-year-olds as well as children aged three and four, with nursery provision forming part of its Catholic primary school at Regents Gate, Exmouth. The school describes kindness, courage and compassion among its Gospel values, while welcoming families of different religions. That gives parents a clear sense of its religious character.

Growing seeds and acting out ways to help people made early learning concrete in June 2024. Activities followed children's interests, and adults used searching questions to encourage children to think about their learning. New, challenging words extended their language. These early-years findings describe learning through activity and conversation, with adults helping children explain what they understand.

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) also included the beginnings of phonics and reading. In June 2024, children were learning sounds and starting to tackle simple sentences. These findings cover the school's early years as a whole; they should not be read as a reading expectation for every nursery child.

Outdoors, the school has its own Forest School area. Its activities connect outdoor learning with class topics, and sessions end around a campfire with hot chocolate. This is a concrete feature of the wider school environment.

Curriculum consistency. In June 2024, some activities across the school were insufficiently matched to pupils' existing understanding, limiting progress. This was a school-wide improvement concern, alongside positive findings about early-years questioning and language development.

Foundation Stage leadership combines teaching, SEND coordination and deputy safeguarding responsibilities. The SEND coordinator is a qualified teacher who teaches in Foundation Stage for three days each week, with one day allocated to managing SEN provision. For families discussing developmental concerns, that connects specialist coordination with early-years classroom work.

Plymouth CAST's approach for nursery and early-years children includes early screening for additional needs and involving parents when special provision is being considered. Support follows a repeating cycle: assess the child's needs, plan help, put it into practice and review its impact. Parents contribute to the support being planned.

Across the school, adaptations include visual timetables, extra processing time and changes to teaching resources. The Bracken room provides a space for supported learning in small groups. Families can raise SEND questions directly through sen@stjo.uk.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the local authority, following the normal application timetable. Plymouth CAST is the school's admissions authority, responsible for admissions decisions and arrangements. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, even though both concern the same school.

Nursery provision includes 15- and 30-hour options. Nursery children finish at 3.15pm, an important collection time when planning the family day.

For enquiries or to arrange a visit, contact admin@stjo.uk or telephone 01395 264875. Visits give families an opportunity to meet the early-years team and see the Foundation Stage Unit. The school is at Regents Gate, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1TA.