Little Links Nursery at Denbury Primary School

Eight children per session gives Little Links its defining scale. Denbury Primary School’s nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds, with entry from the term after a child’s third birthday. It belongs to the school’s Foundation Stage provision, alongside Birch Tor, the Reception class. Daily contact between the two groups makes the wider school part of nursery life from the start.

The March 2023 Ofsted inspection graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement predates the proposed September 2023 nursery intake, so it should not be read as a separate inspection rating for Little Links.

Play, conversation and growing independence shape the learning here. Topics begin with children’s experiences and interests, giving them a familiar starting point for exploring new ideas. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach includes learning indoors and outside, with children doing things, talking about them and developing skills through play.

Little Links children spend time with Reception children each day, using their classroom and outdoor spaces. These encounters create opportunities to practise communication and social skills with older children. The two classes remain named parts of the Foundation Stage provision, while sharing activities and experiences.

Phonics Bug Club begins with Phase One in nursery. Listening to sounds in the environment, exploring rhyme and rhythm, and playing with voice sounds build the listening skills needed for later reading. Early writing starts with marks on paper. Access Art EYFS supports art topics drawn from children’s interests, while design and technology combines adult demonstrations, group activities and exploration through play. These are practical ways to connect ideas with something a child can do or make.

A Nursery/Reception class teacher and nursery teaching assistants form the teaching team. Little Links describes its staff as trained and its care as tailored to children’s developmental needs, including emotions, relationships and communication. The session limit gives families a concrete sense of the group size, rather than a promise about an individual staffing ratio.

Parents are encouraged to contribute to their child’s play and learning. School communication uses Seesaw to record class learning and School Dojo for news, giving families ways to follow activities at home. For additional needs, the school’s SEND approach brings together parents’ views, children’s voices and staff assessment. The SENDCo can be contacted at sendco@denburyprimary.co.uk.

The school kitchen prepares hot lunches, including a vegetarian choice, and packed lunches are permitted. Its food rules exclude sesame, tree nuts and nuts. Those restrictions matter when preparing food to bring from home.

Attending Little Links does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through their local authority. Devon residents apply through Devon County Council; families living elsewhere apply through their own council. The normal primary application window runs from 15 November to 15 January, so nursery attendance does not replace that deadline.

Familiarity is a different matter from admission. Daily activities with Reception children and staff give Little Links children experience of the classroom and outdoor spaces before the next stage. For children offered a school place, the school’s induction programme includes three morning Stay & Play sessions in June or July, each lasting two hours, plus a parents’ meeting and a home visit. These support the change of routine; they do not secure admission.

Three session choices make the timetable straightforward: mornings run from 9am to noon, afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm, and all-day attendance from 9am to 3.30pm. Their start and finish times align with the school timetable, which helps families collecting older siblings.

Children joining from the term after their third birthday receive 15 funded hours, and Little Links also accepts 30-hour funding for eligible children. Additional hours carry a charge; contact the school office for current charges.

For nursery enquiries, use the Child Enquiry Form linked from the Little Links page, telephone 01803 812583 or email admin@denburyprimary.co.uk. School tours can be arranged through the office, allowing families to discuss admission and see the setting before making their decision.