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Nursery at Ham Drive Nursery School and Day Care
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Songs chosen from a toy basket, toast shared around a snack table and exploration in local woods gave Ham Drive its character at the 26 March 2024 inspection. Children had choices to make, conversations to practise and opportunities to learn with others. Nursery and day care children also came together over lunch, making this a social part of the day.
Ham Drive belongs to the Plymouth Nursery Schools Federation. At the March 2024 inspection, the school served children aged two to five and had 86 pupils on roll. Those figures describe the school at that point, rather than the number of places offered today. The provision included day care for two-year-olds.
At the 26 March 2024 inspection, learning combined activities guided by adults with time for children to pursue their own choices. Staff adjusted resources and activities around children's interests and stages of development, allowing them to participate together while progressing at different speeds. A basket of toys gave children something concrete to select when joining songs and rhymes.
Language ran through these experiences. Stories built children's capacity to listen, while actions and rhymes encouraged participation. Nursery children developed longer exchanges with each other and practised following several instructions. Choosing toast, passing butter and requesting a spread turned snack time into an opportunity to communicate and act independently.
Indoor and outdoor learning spaces encouraged exploration. Adults extended children's language by asking questions, putting ideas into words and reshaping what children said. Explorer sessions in nearby woods brought teamwork and perseverance into practical activity. Visits to a local church and celebration days introduced children to different beliefs and cultures.
The curriculum had 10 goals, divided into developmental milestones. Its breadth included learning to explore and persist. In March 2024, however, the milestones needed clearer detail about the particular knowledge and vocabulary children should acquire. This matters because an agreed sequence helps children build their understanding consistently.
Ofsted's 26 March 2024 inspection found that relationships with adults helped children feel secure enough to settle and learn, with timely encouragement for those finding this difficult. Familiar routines supported independence, and children could seek help when they needed it.
At that inspection, adults sat with children from both nursery and day care during lunch, helping them practise manners and eating habits. It was also a chance to spend time together. Makaton signs supported communication and interaction, while adults helped children manage feelings, take turns and play considerately.
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities received support tailored to their individual needs. Targeted sessions helped their communication and confidence. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in March 2024.
Attending nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. The experiences described in the March 2024 inspection, learning to follow instructions, communicate needs and cooperate with other children, provided useful preparation for that next stage; they do not secure admission.
The setting's address is Ham Drive, Ham, Plymouth, PL2 2NJ. Telephone enquiries can be made on 01752366389.
The inspection recorded an age range of two to five, including day care provision for two-year-olds.
At the 26 March 2024 inspection, children combined adult-guided activities with their own choices, including stories, songs, rhymes and exploration indoors and outdoors. Explorer sessions took learning into local woods.
At the 26 March 2024 inspection, adults used Makaton signs, questions and spoken examples to support language. Children practised conversation through play, stories and everyday routines such as snack time.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process.
In March 2024, the curriculum milestones needed to specify more clearly the knowledge and vocabulary children should learn, so their understanding could develop consistently.
