Morice Town Primary Academy Nursery

Acting out stories, practising numbers and discovering Plymouth characterised Morice Town’s early years learning at the May 2023 inspection. The nursery belongs to Morice Town Primary Academy on Charlotte Street in Devonport, Plymouth. Its appeal lies in those concrete beginnings: learning to communicate, becoming more independent and making sense of familiar surroundings.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 16 and 17 May 2023. That judgement covers early years within the academy, rather than a separately inspected nursery. In May 2023, children developed confidence and independence, with frequent opportunities for conversation helping their communication.

Storytelling gives children something to do as well as something to hear. In May 2023, early years children dramatised stories after listening to them. This turns listening into participation, giving children a way to explore a story through action. For parents, it is a useful example of how early learning can combine language and activity.

Counting was another regular part of early years learning in May 2023. Repeated practice helped children develop their knowledge of number facts. Alongside stories and conversation, this gives a concrete picture of the foundations being built: understanding language, expressing ideas and becoming familiar with numbers.

Learning about place began close to home. In May 2023, the early years curriculum started with the school’s immediate surroundings, then expanded to Plymouth and places beyond it. Beginning with somewhere familiar gave children a starting point for understanding new knowledge. The sequence matters: children could connect a bigger world to the places they already knew.

For families concerned about a child’s development, the first conversation is with the class teacher. A meeting with the special educational needs coordinator may follow. This gives parents an initial contact and a further route for discussing additional needs, rather than leaving them to decide which specialist to approach first.

The academy aims to include children who need extra help so that they can progress and enjoy school. Its special educational needs coordinator can be contacted through the school office. Plymouth Information, Advice and Support for SEND (PIAS) also provides confidential, impartial help for parents and carers, including support at meetings and advice about changing schools. That offers families another source of practical support alongside conversations with staff.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Plymouth Schools’ Admissions team is the contact for school-place applications. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions; attending here should never replace making that application.

Contact the academy office on 01752 567609 or email reception@moricetownacademy.org for an enquiry. School visits can be arranged by appointment through the office. The address is Charlotte Street, Devonport, Plymouth, PL2 1RJ, giving families a concrete starting point for planning a visit.