Little Lambs Nursery at St Aldhelms Church School

Foam play, homemade firefighter helmets and autumn walks give Little Lambs its own character within St Aldhelms Church School. This is the school's nursery provision in Doulting, near Shepton Mallet. It opened in September 2025, with its initial offer aimed at three-year-olds. The nursery and Reception sit within the school's Early Years teaching team, linking the provision organisationally to the next stage of education.

Practical play gives children something to make, handle and explore. A firefighter activity combined a tray of foam with helmet making: children exercised their fingers through the craft activity, then brought their creations into their play. The materials served two purposes, supporting physical practice and giving imaginative play a concrete prop.

Painting takes several forms. Children have mixed colours directly with their hands, traced firework shapes through glitter with brushes, ripped paper to make bonfire pictures and blown paint through straws. These are distinct ways to experiment with materials and movement.

Early number work includes Number of the Week, while pencil handling and making marks have also featured in nursery activities. Throwing practice adds another physical element. Together, these examples show learning through small, practical tasks: exploring numbers, controlling tools and directing movement.

The school grounds extend that activity outdoors. In autumn 2025, nursery children considered clothing for warmer and colder weather, then practised getting dressed for seasonal walks. Preparing to go outside was itself part of the learning, with opportunities to exercise independence alongside exploring the grounds.

An Early Years teaching team covers Little Lambs and Reception, with early years teaching assistants also part of the school's staffing structure. For families seeking support with special educational needs or disabilities, the school's SEND coordinator can be contacted through the office.

Communication about SEND can take place by telephone, email, private Class Dojo messages or an in-person meeting, according to the family's preference. That gives parents several ways to discuss their child with staff, including a conversation rather than a written exchange.

School meals are created and cooked on site. The school menu changes each term and includes a vegetarian choice, jacket potatoes with toppings and picnic plates. During summer, vegetables grown by children contribute to meals. These are school-wide arrangements, rather than a separate description of nursery meals.

Attending Little Lambs does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The School Admissions Team at County Hall in Taunton provides information about September Reception entry. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as two separate decisions, even though the provision shares an Early Years team.

Contact the school office to register interest in Little Lambs: telephone 01749 880376 or email enquiries@staldhelms.bwmat.org. The address is Chelynch Park, Doulting, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4PL. The same office provides the contact route to the SEND coordinator, so nursery interest and support enquiries can begin with one point of contact.