Shakespeare Primary School Nursery Review

Stories give Shakespeare Nursery its character. The super 6 books shape the early years curriculum, with activities indoors and outside extending the stories children hear. This is Shakespeare Primary School’s own nursery in Honicknowle, Plymouth, so its place within the school matters as much as its identity as an early years setting.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 5 and 6 November 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The early years curriculum makes books a starting point for exploration. Children hear stories and investigate them through activities in both the indoor and outdoor learning areas. Adults help them develop that exploration. For parents, the practical distinction is that reading extends beyond listening: the stories also supply ideas for children’s activity and imagination.

In November 2024, children in early years used their learning spaces independently and with confidence. Alongside the story activities, this gives a picture of children taking an active part in their learning. Towards the end of nursery, they start working on early sounds, preparing for the next stage of learning to read. The emphasis is on foundations: exploring stories first, then beginning sound work before moving on.

Support for additional needs sits within the school’s SEND structure. The school aims to respond to each child’s needs and reduce obstacles to learning, working with parents as partners. Its special educational needs coordinator supports teachers, teaching assistants and pupils, and handles responsibilities relating to Education, Health and Care Plans.

Senior leadership meets the SEND team weekly to discuss concerns. For families, that provides a defined route for raising a child’s needs rather than leaving the conversation solely with classroom staff. Contact the team through the school office on 01752 312048 or at send@spsplymouth.org. A Children and Families Support Worker also helps families beyond school and children within it, with daily availability and parent groups.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority’s normal process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. The Common Application Form goes to the home local authority. For the 2026/2027 entry cycle, the deadline was 15 January 2026.

There is a conditional admissions priority: nursery children receiving service premium, early years pupil premium or pupil premium at application fall within the fourth oversubscription category. They must also submit the pupil premium supplementary information form. Attendance alone does not qualify a child for this category.

Preparation for starting school is a separate matter. Before entry, families have a meeting with staff, children can spend time in class through pop-in-and-play visits, and a home visit lets the teacher meet the child in familiar surroundings. These arrangements help introduce the people and setting; they do not replace the application.

For enquiries about joining Shakespeare, call 01752 312048. Reception application questions can also go to Plymouth’s admissions team on 01752 307469 or primary.admissions@plymouth.gov.uk. Keep the nursery enquiry and the later school application as two distinct tasks.