Little Herons Nursery at North Curry CofE Primary School

Care from six months, sessions until 6pm and a nursery classroom within the primary school give Little Herons a practical identity of its own. It belongs to the Huish Nurseries group, with provision for children aged two to four as well as younger babies at North Curry. The nursery admission limit for 2026–2027 is 30; families enquire directly about spaces.

The wider early years provision received a Good judgement at Ofsted’s inspection on 21 and 22 January 2025. Children began their education confidently and settled into routines. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Books and everyday routines provide the clearest picture of learning here. In January 2025, early years children explored books including Owl Babies, while nursery children understood the routine of cleaning their hands before sitting together for a snack. These are small but useful steps towards enjoying stories and managing ordinary tasks independently.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the early years context for this provision. Mathematics learning starts with carefully ordered steps that build on earlier understanding. Alongside learning, the session includes a snack in the kitchen area, with drinks and food giving children a shared pause.

Messy play is expected: families are asked to choose clothes that can take the consequences, rather than expecting staff to interrupt play repeatedly with aprons. Wellies, a coat and a sun hat are among the items to bring. Clothing that children can remove easily and shoes they can manage themselves also support independence.

Each child has an allocated key worker, giving parents a regular contact for discussing activities, development and changes at home. Practitioners hold relevant qualifications at level two, three or above. Flexible settling visits begin after registration paperwork is complete, with an individual plan that can build gradually towards a whole session.

Famly carries observations of each child’s learning and a daily newsfeed with photographs and activity details. Conversations at collection and drop-off add a direct exchange with staff. Allow time for collection: arriving just before the session ends can leave little opportunity for a detailed handover.

Food needs planning, especially for babies. Parents supply food for children aged six to twelve months. For older children, the snack café is free, with fruit, vegetable sticks and milk or water. Families can bring meals or choose charged breakfast, cooked lunch and picnic tea, including when using funded places. When the school kitchen is closed but nursery remains open, children need a packed lunch.

Additional needs. In January 2025, some pupils across the school waited too long for SEND identification or had learning plans that lacked precision. Curriculum sequencing also needed greater detail in some subjects. These were school-wide concerns, so families planning additional support should discuss identification and specific learning targets. Nursery registration gathers information about disabilities, dietary needs and other professionals involved with a child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the 2026/27 admission criteria. Families must make a separate application through Somerset County Council using the local authority common application form. For the arrangements labelled 2026/27, the stated closing date is 15 January 2027.

Familiarisation is a separate matter. New Reception starters have transition afternoons in July; the teacher may visit their nursery and arrange a home visit. Where needed, an entry planning meeting brings parents, the previous setting and involved professionals together to agree initial targets.

Opening runs from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across 50 weeks. Choose a morning ending at 1pm, an afternoon starting then, or a full day. Charges apply by session, although collection and drop-off can take place within the booked hours.

Universal funding for three- and four-year-olds begins in the funding period after a child’s third birthday and is stretched across the year to 11 hours weekly for 50 weeks; eligible extended entitlement totals 22 hours weekly over that period. Extended eligibility needs reconfirming every three months. Parents provide nappies, wipes and sun protection. Ask the nursery team for current charges and bookings; reducing sessions requires four weeks’ written notice.

Parents wait in the coat area for collection and drop-off. An alternative collector needs permission, with a password used for emergency arrangements.