Curledge Street Academy Nursery Review

Penguins and Seals give the nursery at Curledge Street Academy its own identity within a dedicated Early Years building. Penguins caters for two-year-olds; Seals is for children aged three to four. Little Thinkers extends the provision to children from nine months. These age-specific rooms distinguish the youngest children's provision from the preschool stage.

The setting is on Curledge Street in Paignton. Its nursery combines indoor and outdoor play with a curriculum that gives communication, exploration and growing independence a clear place in children's learning.

Play is the starting point. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes learning through investigating, practising and developing ideas. Its Characteristics of Effective Learning put emphasis on trying things, sustaining concentration and finding ways to solve problems. For parents, that means learning includes the process of tackling an activity, rather than simply completing it.

In Penguins, spacious, bright interiors and outdoor areas give children room to explore through play. Learning happens outside as well as indoors. Staff adapt the environment and activities to children's different ways of learning, so the approach allows for individual interests and needs. Seals places emphasis on curiosity, creativity and developing relationships with others as children prepare for school.

Language is a clear strength of the early years curriculum. At the inspection on 13 and 14 December 2023, Ofsted found that early years learning deliberately expanded children's vocabulary, with activities combining interest and challenge. Reading begins in nursery, giving books and early literacy a place from the outset. This makes communication an educational priority alongside exploration and play.

Room leaders, nursery assistants and apprentices form the teams for the two-year-old and three-to-four-year-old groups. In Seals, the room leader works with nursery assistants to support individual needs. The staffing structure gives each age group its own team.

Self-care is part of learning too. In December 2023, children in the early years practised toothbrushing each day, making a health routine part of their education. Breakfast can be provided when nursery care starts at 8am, which gives families an option to include eating in the early start.

For additional needs, the school's support structure includes SEND, pastoral and nurture teams. Support can take place individually, in groups or within the classroom. Families can raise concerns with their child's teacher, with the SEND coordinator also available to help. These are school-wide arrangements, rather than a separate nursery service.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Choosing Penguins or Seals should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself, with the Reception application treated as a separate step.

Both Penguins and Seals offer morning sessions from 08:45 to 11:45, afternoon sessions from 12:15 to 15:15, and a full school day from 08:45 to 15:15. Wraparound care runs from 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Thursday and from 08:00 to 16:00 on Friday. Those different finishing times matter when planning a working week.

For parents receiving 15 or 30 funded hours, nursery breakfast provision can count towards their child's weekly allocation. Hours beyond that allocation are charged; contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries can be made through the enquiry form, by telephone on 01803 557726 or by email at admin@curledgestreet.tsat.uk.