St Paul's, Wooburn: Nursery Review

A storybook becomes drawing, counting and conversation here. Nursery children at St Paul's Church of England Combined School, Wooburn have used The Very Hungry Caterpillar to practise hand control and explore number while retelling the story together. It is a concrete example of how several strands of early learning can meet in one activity.

The nursery appears among the school's classes as Wrens Class. It belongs to the Church of England school on Stratford Drive in Wooburn Green, giving families a school-based nursery setting with access to the school's support structures.

Storytelling has a practical purpose. In June 2025, Ofsted described nursery activities combining drawing and story retelling with the development of fine motor skills and number understanding. For parents, that means early preparation for writing sits alongside talk and mathematical ideas, rather than being a separate exercise.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning. St Paul's geography planning connects exploration and discovery with its seven areas, especially Understanding the World. Children consider familiar routines and events, ask questions about similarities and differences, and use role play to explore the environments associated with different jobs. These activities give everyday experiences a place in learning.

Cooperative play is another part of the picture: early years children were learning and playing together in June 2025. Sharing an activity gives children opportunities to practise working with others alongside developing their own ideas.

Teaching consistency. The same June 2025 inspection identified school-wide weaknesses in adapting work to pupils' needs and checking their understanding. Some learning needed greater challenge, while misunderstandings needed more reliable attention. These are whole-school concerns, rather than findings specifically assigned to the nursery.

Support draws on a school team comprising class teachers, the special educational needs and disabilities coordinator (SENDCo), learning support assistants and higher level teaching assistants. The school's approach allows additional or adapted provision where children need help accessing learning, with further staff training sought as needs change.

For children receiving SEND support, a Pupil Passport and individual learning targets provide a structure for discussion. Parents are invited to meet the class teacher or SENDCo when support begins and to discuss progress; targets are revisited regularly. This gives families a defined role in discussing their child's needs. The SENDCo can be reached through the school office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. St Paul's directs applicants to Buckinghamshire Council, and applications begin during the autumn term for entry the following September. Treat that application as a separate task when planning your child's next step.

The school office is the contact point for enquiries: telephone 01628 521553 or email office@stpaulswooburn.school. The address is Stratford Drive, Wooburn Green, HP10 0QH.

Families can also arrange to look around the school with their child by getting in touch. That provides an opportunity to see the school setting before making a nursery choice.