Starfish Nursery at Stanley Green Infant Academy

Three-hour sessions or a six-hour day give Starfish Nursery a clear practical shape. This is Stanley Green Infant Academy’s nursery for children aged two to four, sharing the school site in Oakdale, Poole. The grounds include an orchard, a concrete point of character within the shared setting.

Kindness, independence, teamwork and curiosity are the school’s shared values. For parents, the nursery’s identity is best understood through its early learning approach and everyday arrangements: play-led learning, an individual digital learning journal and a parent-provided lunch and drink for children staying for lunch.

Planning in the moment is the named nursery approach. Alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), it gives children’s interests a place in learning. In plain language, the EYFS brings together learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early reading, mathematics, discovering the world and creative expression. Play and exploration take place inside and outdoors.

The nursery’s 2025–2026 topics included Colours everywhere, Once upon a time and Ready Steady Grow. These give a sense of the themes used to organise learning, rather than a fixed timetable for every child. Practical art includes making prints with vegetables, exploring colour mixtures and shaping playdough with cutters. Children can experiment with materials while practising hand movements and expressing ideas.

In February 2023, Ofsted found that adults’ skilful exchanges with nursery children helped them develop their understanding while sketching people and making sandcastles. That is a useful example of teaching within play: an adult helps a child take an ordinary activity further.

Parentmail carries nursery messages, including reminders and newsletters, by text or email. Tapestry gives each child a personal learning journal that parents can access through their own login. Together, these provide practical updates and a way to follow learning beyond the session.

At the mid-morning break, children receive fruit or vegetables; parents can supply their own instead. Free milk is offered up to age five, with parental permission for registration through Cool Milk. Children staying for lunch bring a healthy meal and drink in named containers. The nursery is nut-free, so lunch preparation needs to reflect that restriction.

Families supply nappies, wipes and nappy bags where needed. Additional charges apply if these are not supplied. For children needing SEND support, the nursery and school use an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Learning and development pathways identify targets and support, are shared with parents and reviewed half-termly, giving families a defined opportunity to discuss progress.

Attending Starfish Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through BCP Council’s central admissions process. For September 2027 entry, the closing date is 15 January 2027. Nursery attendance gives no priority in that cycle; the oversubscription criteria concern care status, siblings and distance.

Transition support is separate from allocation. Summer handover information goes to teaching and pastoral staff, while children are invited for a story session with their future teacher and classmates. Parents have a welcome evening and an individual meeting opportunity. These steps help staff learn about the child before the move.

Morning sessions run from 09:00 to 12:00, afternoons from 12:00 to 15:00, and full days from 09:00 to 15:00. At least two sessions must be booked each week. Funded sessions depend on space and are allocated by the Early Years Lead; funded days can change with one month’s written notice. Funding is administered across 38 weeks, from September to July. Extra hours and services beyond funded provision are charged, as are outings and additional chargeable activities. Contact the school for current charges.

Uniform is optional. Own clothes are welcome, with painting accidents a practical consideration. Collection arrangements must be recorded, and someone collecting other than a parent or carer needs the agreed password. Enquiries go to 01202 778181 or sgia@stanleygreen.co.uk; school tours can be arranged by telephone appointment.

Wider school oversight. In February 2023, inspectors identified weaknesses in trustees’ understanding of their duties and in the development of some subject curricula. These were school-wide concerns, relevant to families considering the nursery within the academy.