Christ Church CofE Primary and Nursery Academy Nursery Review

Aquamarine and Citrine give Christ Church’s nursery its own identity within the primary academy in St Leonards-on-Sea. This is school-based provision on Woodland Vale Road, with a Church of England setting around it. The school’s learning priorities include independence, reflection and collaboration: useful themes for children beginning to learn alongside others.

In January 2026, the school consulted on extending the nursery to children from 9 months old. That was a proposal, rather than confirmation of a new age range. Families considering provision for a baby should keep that distinction clear.

Stories and imaginative play provide concrete ways into language learning. In April 2025, early-years children developed their vocabulary through adult interaction across the day, including role play. Staff introduced unfamiliar words skilfully. For a young child, that connects language to something they are doing, giving new vocabulary a practical context rather than leaving it as an isolated exercise.

Hearing stories and telling them also formed the starting point for developing writing. The emphasis begins with spoken language: children have opportunities to build the words and ideas that later support written expression. These are early-years findings across the school, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Independence sits alongside collaboration among the school’s stated learning dispositions. Together, those priorities give parents a useful picture of its aims: children learning to attempt things themselves while also working with other people.

Additional needs are addressed through the school’s SEND team working with teaching staff and pastoral colleagues. Regular Pupil Progress meetings help staff decide on support strategies and intervention groups. When an additional need is identified, the team and class teacher plan the child’s provision together. Parents contribute to additional needs plans, bringing their knowledge of the child into that process.

For families concerned about development or learning, the class teacher is the first contact. This gives parents a clear starting point for raising a concern and discussing support.

English language support is organised at school level too. Two staff members work with children learning English as an additional language, and new EAL families have a meeting to help them settle into school life. Classroom support can include pictures, translation programmes and vocabulary banks linked to a topic. Those practical aids give children other ways to understand an activity while their English develops.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school-place route and meet the deadline for their entry year. Treat the nursery decision and the Reception application as two distinct steps; choosing this nursery does not remove the need to apply again.

A nursery application form provides the route for applying to the provision. Childcare Choices helps families explore their eligibility for free nursery sessions, while chargeable extras are a separate consideration. Contact the school for current charges.

General enquiries go to office@christchurch.academy or 01424 422 953. The school’s main entrance is on Woodland Vale Road. Its general gate-opening arrangements are separate from a nursery session booking, so gate access should not be treated as the length of a child’s nursery day.