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Nursery at Woodlands School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, communication and growing independence give Woodlands’ nursery its character. This is specialist early education for children with complex needs involving physical disability, sensory impairment or medical care. Plymouth City Council commissioned a 10-place assessment provision for children aged 2 to 4 from September 2025, allowing children to attend while their education, health and care plan (EHCP) assessment is completed.
Nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years Department, which begins at age 2 and extends to Year 2. The assessment provision has a specific purpose: helping children develop skills while their needs and future educational provision are considered.
Children’s interests shape much of the learning. Play provides the main approach, alongside daily communication teaching adapted to individual needs. The early years foundation stage (EYFS), the framework for young children’s learning and development, is combined with relevant parts of the Woodlands Life Skills Curriculum. Independence is a practical aim, rather than an extra activity.
Read Write Inc, signing and Braille are among the approaches used where appropriate within the department. Their use depends on the child’s communication needs; they are not a fixed programme for every nursery child. Shared themes also connect the youngest learners with school activities when suitable.
Early mathematical ideas develop through exploration and play, alongside mobility, independence and communication. Elsewhere in the school’s Sensory Needs Curriculum, sensory rooms support learning about actions and reactions. These illustrate the school’s approach to introducing concepts through physical interaction.
Afternoon family sessions include playgroup and swimming for preschool children with physical or sensory needs. They give parents and children a way to participate together, separate from describing a booked nursery session.
Understanding the individual child is central to adaptation. At the February 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early years children made a positive start because staff understood their particular needs and adjusted provision accordingly. This finding concerns early years; it is not a separate nursery inspection grade.
Support extends beyond teaching. The school’s staff work with therapists through training and shadowing, while specialist teaching assistants contribute across classes. Posture, physical skills and communication are part of this joint working, making the relationship between learning and care especially relevant for families considering this nursery.
Medical preparation has dedicated time: two of the school’s five annual training days focus entirely on medical support. Another three cover educational needs, including safeguarding and safe handling. These are school-wide arrangements supporting the staff team.
Once a place is agreed, entry is planned with the family around education, health and care needs. The Family Team also helps families communicate and connect with services and assessment support. Settling therefore involves discussion of the child’s care as well as their learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. An assessment place should not be treated as a promise of continued placement at Woodlands.
Plymouth Local Authority makes placement decisions through the SEND process. Families should express their preferred school to their own authority through their supporting professional or the service’s email route; consultation with Woodlands and consideration by the specialist placements panel form part of that process. Discuss the next placement with your local authority through the EHCP process; the authority makes the final placement decision.
Visits can be arranged through the school office on 01752 300101 or office@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk. Professionals supporting the family can attend too.
The school’s opening hours are 9:00am to 3:15pm Monday to Thursday and 9:00am to 1:15pm Friday. These are school hours, rather than a nursery session booking menu. Friday afternoons are reserved for staff training covering pupils’ needs.
For the assessment provision, enquiries about placement go through Plymouth’s 0-25 SEND team on 01752 307409. Families living outside Plymouth should ask their own authority’s team to approach Plymouth for consideration.
The commissioned assessment provision serves children aged 2 to 4 with the complex needs described in the school’s admission criteria.
The Early Years Department runs daily sessions adapted to individual communication needs, using signing, Braille or Read Write Inc where appropriate.
Afternoon family sessions include swimming and playgroup for preschool children with physical or sensory needs.
No. Placement decisions are made by the local authority through the SEND process; an assessment nursery place is not a guarantee of a later place at Woodlands.
Contact the school office on 01752 300101 or office@woodlands.plymouth.sch.uk. Professionals working with your family are welcome to attend.
