High Bickington Church of England Primary Academy Nursery

Playful actions help new words stick: language has a clear purpose in High Bickington’s early years. Nursery provision serves two- and three-year-olds within High Bickington Church of England Primary Academy in Umberleigh, Devon. This is an introduction to school life with an emphasis on vocabulary, early reading and learning to use a pencil.

In March 2026, Ofsted judged the school’s early years to be Strong standard. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection. The practical strengths include purposeful conversations with experienced staff and activities suited to children’s different ages.

Vocabulary grows through interaction. Staff connect unfamiliar words with playful movements, giving children something to do as well as something to remember. This makes language learning concrete: an action becomes another way to recall a word.

The early years curriculum gives reading an early place through phonics, the work of connecting sounds with written letters. Pencil handling also receives attention from the beginning. Across early years, children use their developing sound knowledge to write age-appropriate words and phrases. These are early steps towards reading and writing, with activities matched to age rather than one task for everyone.

Purposeful exchanges with adults are a feature of the March 2026 early years findings. Experienced, skilled staff help children build the abilities needed for their next educational stage. For parents, the useful distinction is that playful learning has a clear teaching purpose.

Alongside this, TEAM’s shared educational framework includes Building Learning Power. The trust describes it through resilience, reciprocity, resourcefulness and reflectiveness: persisting, learning with others, trying another approach and thinking about learning. These foundations apply across its settings and give a wider context to the nursery’s place within the trust.

Anxiety receives a caring response. In March 2026, early years staff encouraged children who felt anxious, helping them take part positively in learning. Activities suited to different ages also recognise that younger and older children need different starting points.

Parents have opportunities to join reading events, including book and biscuit, and workshops about supporting reading at home. These provide a practical connection between early reading in school and what families do together. The March 2026 early years findings also recorded parents’ appreciation of the care at the start of their children’s school experience.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two decisions; familiarity with the school is not an offer of a place.

The school is in High Bickington, Umberleigh, EX37 9AY. For nursery enquiries, contact the school on 01769560324. This gives families a direct school contact when considering the provision.