Bluebells Nursery at Stoke St Michael Primary School

Natural resources, Forest Schools and learning shaped by children’s interests give Bluebells its character. This is Stoke St Michael Primary School’s on-site nursery, welcoming children aged 2–5 into its EYFS unit. A specialist early years leader works with nursery assistants, giving the provision its own early years team within the school setting.

Bluebells describes its approach as relaxed and centred on play. Stories and termly themes help shape the learning, while children’s interests influence the activities around them. It has no Ofsted graded rating yet.

Play provides the starting point. Staff organise learning around children’s interests and broader themes for each term, selecting stories and natural materials to support exploration. They use questions, observation and reflection to help children think further about what they are doing. That gives adult involvement a purpose alongside children’s own choices.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects practical exploration with developing skills and understanding. Art draws on Cornerstones Curriculum and Maestro projects, with objectives linked to physical development and Expressive Arts and Design. Creative materials remain accessible in the classroom for children to make their own artwork. Weekly adult-led art sessions introduce skills they can then use in activities they choose themselves.

Making and cooking add another practical strand. Early years children explore parts of larger machines, construct things from materials and prepare simple recipes. They taste what they have made and consider the result, linking ingredients and instructions to a finished dish.

Understanding the World starts close to home: children discuss their lives and their families, using objects, photographs and stories to explore past and present. Seasonal changes and familiar routines give time a concrete meaning. Learning extends indoors and outdoors, with Forest Schools and natural resources part of the nursery’s approach. Outdoor areas are being developed for observing plants and animals; that remains a developing element of the environment.

The early years team encourages active learning and welcomes parents’ involvement in their child’s education. Bluebells places emphasis on getting to know each child, with staff observation informing the activities they plan. For families, the emphasis is on individual interests rather than expecting every child to follow an identical path through play.

For SEND concerns, parents can contact the school’s Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator through the office. The school aims to adapt education to each child’s strengths and needs and work in partnership with families. This provides a clear contact route for discussing support.

Attending Bluebells does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority using a Common Application Form, either online or on paper. For Somerset residents, that authority is Somerset Council. Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions.

Bluebells opens from 8:45 am to 3:15 pm during term time only. Its funded provision includes 15 hours a week, with fully funded 30-hour spaces also available. The term-time arrangement matters when planning childcare across school holidays.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01749 840470 or office@stokestmichaelprimary.co.uk. Bluebells is on the school site at Moonshill Road, Stoke St Michael, Radstock, BA3 5LG.