Shepton Mallet Community Infants' School & Nursery: Nursery Review

Structured play, children's own ideas and a nursery outdoor space give this provision its character. At Shepton Mallet Community Infants' School & Nursery on Waterloo Road, the school nursery caters for children aged two, three and four. Explorers covers ages two to three, with Pre-School for three- to four-year-olds. These age groups give families a clear starting point when considering the provision.

Play is the main teaching method. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children's communication, relationships, physical skills and creativity, alongside early number work and discovering the world. In parent terms, learning includes making choices, talking with other children, sharing and trying out ideas. The nursery aims to make learning enjoyable from the start.

Adults plan activities with learning purposes, but leave room for children's interests to change their direction. A session can include an activity directed by an adult, play that an adult has prepared, and play initiated by children themselves. That balance gives children both guidance and opportunities to decide what to explore. Making mistakes and trying again are part of the nursery's intended approach to building confidence.

Learning extends outdoors. The nursery has its own outdoor environment, and planning connects activities outside with those indoors. Outdoor play therefore forms part of the learning programme rather than simply providing a break from it. Activities can bring several learning areas together, giving children opportunities to practise social and communication skills while exploring their ideas.

In January and February 2024, nursery language teaching helped children develop fuller sentences and broaden the words they used for mathematics. This gives a concrete picture of the adult contribution: helping children express themselves while building the language needed for early number learning.

Settling was a strength in January and February 2024: nursery children became comfortable quickly, with staff giving help suited to their needs. Children were happy and their care needs were met. For families facing a first separation, that is a useful finding about the experience of starting nursery.

The team includes a nursery teacher and manager, a deputy childcare manager, nursery nurses and an assistant. Nursery leadership also includes responsibility for safeguarding and special educational needs. These roles give parents specific routes for discussing care, protection and additional support.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), progress checks in the nursery were thorough in January and February 2024. A nursery special educational needs coordinator provides a contact for families. The school welcomes conversations by telephone or in person about concerns, giving parents a way to contribute what they know about their child.

Reception admission is separate. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions route. Somerset Council handles school admissions, and places are allocated using published criteria. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two decisions, even when your preferred school is the same.

Use Somerset Council's school admissions service for the Reception application. Nursery attendance should not be treated as an assurance of a place when planning your child's next step.

A nursery visit can be requested through the eyworks enquiry form. The nursery aims to reply within 48 hours, so this provides a direct first step for families wanting to look around.

The nursery office can also be reached on 01749 342322, choosing option 3, or by emailing nursery@sheptoninfants.co.uk. The address is Waterloo Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5HE.