Woodland Nursery at Alverton Primary School

Woodland exploration and stories brought to life through dance give Woodland Nursery its character. This is Alverton Primary School’s own nursery in Penzance, admitting children from two years old. Little Foxes is the toddler room for ages 2–3, while Little Owls is the preschool room. Those named rooms give families a clear distinction between the toddler and preschool provision.

Early years provision was judged Good at the Ofsted inspection on 19 and 20 November 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Two sessions shape the nursery day: 9am–12pm and 1pm–4pm, with care extending from 8am to 6pm. The shorter sessions and longer care window give families different timings to consider around their working day.

Healthy Movers brings physical activity into the day through rhythm, dance and stories. It connects movement with storytelling, giving children a physical way to engage with a tale. Messy play and arts and crafts also feature, with toddlers getting creative and spending time on the field.

The woodland area is a concrete part of the nursery’s setting. Little Owls staff describe exploring it with children, while the nursery also has Friday fires. For a child who enjoys being outside, the woods and field are useful features to weigh alongside the indoor rooms.

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), books are part of children’s learning. In November 2024, children enjoyed books linked to the early years curriculum, and learning was planned to build on earlier knowledge. In plain parent language, that means new learning connects to what children already know. Independence has a practical expression too: early years children put on their own wellies for outdoor learning.

A Head of Early Years also teaches preschool, linking leadership with teaching. Room leads and nursery practitioners work within Little Foxes and Little Owls, and the Little Foxes room lead also holds the nursery SENDCo role. That gives additional needs a specific place within the nursery team.

Food has its own specialist role. The nursery cook has Catering Level 3 training, and the nursery describes its menus as supporting a balanced diet. Meal preparation is therefore part of the nursery’s staffing structure.

Across the school, support for special educational needs and disabilities can include adapted work, individual targets, small groups and one-to-one interventions. Parents take part in planning, with outside agencies involved where appropriate. This makes discussion of a child’s individual needs relevant from the start.

SEND support. At the November 2024 inspection, some pupils across the school had their additional needs recognised too late, and agreed help was not delivered consistently. Families should discuss how the nursery will identify their child’s needs and provide planned support.

Attending Woodland Nursery does not guarantee a place in Alverton’s Reception. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing nursery care and applying for a school place as separate decisions.

Opening hours are 8am–6pm, Monday to Friday; the nursery closes on Saturdays and Sundays. For nursery place enquiries, call 01736 351135 or email woodlandnursery@alverton.tpacademytrust.org. Session and charge enquiries go directly to the nursery. Ask the school for current charges before making a booking.