Seahorse Nursery at Salcombe Church of England Primary School

Thursday mornings belong to Forest School at Seahorse Nursery, giving outdoor exploration a regular place in the week. This is Salcombe Church of England Primary School’s own nursery, also known as Seahorse Class, for children aged two to five. It accommodates up to 26 children in each session.

The nursery operates during school terms, with mornings and afternoons that can be combined into a full day. Its character comes from practical experiences: cookery, play and time in the school’s woodland area. For families choosing sessions, Thursday morning brings a specific outdoor opportunity.

Seahorse follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, the framework covering young children’s care, development and learning. Here, practical activity includes preparing food and talking about healthy choices. Children receive a drink and snack in each session, giving the day a food routine alongside its learning activities.

Forest School takes place on site every Thursday morning, led by a Forest School practitioner. The approach gives children opportunities to explore, play and try manageable risks with support. The school’s wooded Forest School area includes mud kitchens, bug hotels and stepping stones, as well as a fire circle. Those features give outdoor exploration concrete materials and spaces to work with.

In June 2025, nursery learning included rhymes, sound exploration and familiar routines to prepare children for later phonics teaching. Language development began with the two-year-olds, with adults reinforcing vocabulary such as numbers and the days of the week. Early-years children also listened to stories and practised taking turns, connecting communication with learning how to play alongside others.

The June 2025 Ofsted inspection was ungraded and identified school-wide concerns about learning expectations, opportunities to practise and consolidate skills, and the consistency of the wider curriculum. These were concerns across the school, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Before a child starts, every new family is offered a home visit. This gives the child a chance to get to know a staff member and gives adults an introduction to the child’s interests. Parents complete health and registration information, with consent covering activities including local outings and help with toileting.

Three staff members work in the nursery. Staff receive safeguarding training, and continuing development includes training within the setting. Parents are encouraged to discuss matters affecting their child with the team. The school also has a SENCO, providing a contact for families discussing additional needs.

For children attending an afternoon or full day, lunch can be brought from home or supplied by the on-site kitchen. Hot meals are charged separately. The nursery asks families to keep peppers out of snacks and packed lunches because of a child’s severe allergy, a practical restriction to remember when preparing food.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions process; Devon County Council provides the online application route. Treat choosing Seahorse sessions and applying for school as two separate decisions.

Sessions run Monday to Friday during term time: mornings are 8:45am to noon, lunch is noon to 1pm, and afternoons are 1pm to 3:15pm. A combined full day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm.

Booking commitment. Bookings cover a whole term, and booked sessions cannot be exchanged. Extra sessions can be arranged ahead of time when space permits. Families needing a changing weekly pattern should weigh that fixed booking arrangement carefully.

Unfunded sessions require payment when booked or at the beginning of each half term. Funding includes the universal 15-hour entitlement for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday, with 30 hours available through the working-parent offer subject to eligibility. Some two-year-olds qualify for a separate 15-hour scheme through additional support criteria. Ask the school for current charges.

Nursery application and interest forms are available. To arrange a visit or enquire, email office@salcombe-primary.devon.sch.uk or telephone 01548 842842.