Shorty's Nursery at Dame Janet Primary Academy

Morning or afternoon nursery sessions, with play as the starting point: Shorty's Nursery sits within Dame Janet Primary Academy in Ramsgate. The nursery is integrated into the school and caters for children aged 3 to 5. Its maximum capacity is 32 places, split between 16 morning and 16 afternoon places. This is a session-based introduction to school life.

Children become eligible in the term following their third birthday. The school describes play as the way its youngest children develop.

Stories and nursery rhymes give the day a concrete language focus. In March 2024, Ofsted found that nursery children heard and learned both to develop their communication. The practical purpose is clear: listening and joining in help children build the language they need to express themselves.

Mathematics also features daily, including for children in the nursery's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision. Here, early education includes both language development and mathematical learning. Numicon is the school's principal maths resource, providing a visual way of representing mathematical ideas.

The wider school grounds include sensory gardens and fields alongside hard surfaces and equipment for educational play. These are school facilities rather than a description of a separate nursery garden. Nursery children also have their own Songs Around the Tree event, with parents invited to morning or afternoon performances. That gives families a specific occasion to share in nursery life.

Shorty's has its own nursery staff team, alongside school roles for communication support and speech and language. For families whose children need additional help, the school's SEND arrangements begin with information from parents and previous settings, with teacher and SEND team assessments used where necessary. Support is planned around the child.

Joining arrangements for children with existing medical conditions or previous SEND support can include a visit by the SENCO to their previous setting. A child can visit Dame Janet, with a taster session where appropriate; a transition book may also help prepare them. These are conditional arrangements rather than a single settling programme for every nursery child.

Across the school's two sites, care suites, calm areas and intervention rooms provide physical spaces for support. Both sites have wheelchair access. Where a child has a medical condition, the First Aid Leader prepares a detailed care plan with the family, making parents part of that planning.

Attending Shorty's Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Kent County Council's online primary school application route. For September 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027. Treat that application as a separate task, even while your child attends nursery.

Nursery applications go directly to the school office. Morning and afternoon places are offered, so the session pattern matters when planning family routines.

Contact the office on 01843 591807 or email office@djpa-tkat.org for enquiries and applications. School tours can also be requested through a booking form, with families able to request a suitable time.