Beacons Nursery at St Breock Primary School

Playing, experimenting and learning to talk shape the early years approach at Beacons, St Breock Primary School’s nursery in Wadebridge. Children can join from age 3, with entry possible during the school year if a place is available. The nursery belongs to the school on Tremarren Road.

Beacons follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Its emphasis is on helping children develop language, relationships and physical skills, alongside the beginnings of literacy and mathematics. For parents, that means an approach concerned with how children communicate and manage themselves as well as what they learn.

Play has a clear purpose here. The school aims to give children opportunities to investigate, make things and try ideas, with adults demonstrating language and helping them discuss their work. Its named Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning bring together exploration through play, active involvement and creative thinking. These describe the habits the school wants children to develop.

Across the EYFS, learning includes understanding the world and expressive arts, alongside mathematics and literacy. Talking, emotional development and movement receive particular emphasis. The intention is to build the skills children need to participate in learning: expressing an idea, working with someone else and becoming more independent.

In September 2022, Ofsted found that children in the early years developed a secure grasp of number. That gives a concrete example of the learning foundations being established, rather than a separate nursery inspection grade.

The nursery team comprises a lead, deputy lead and teaching assistant. The lead holds an early childhood educational studies degree and Early Years Professional Status; the deputy has a degree in Early Childhood Studies. This gives families a clear picture of the team’s roles and early years qualifications.

Additional needs sit within the school’s SEND arrangements. Staff use observation, assessment and conversations with parents to identify needs, while the SEND coordinator works with teachers and teaching assistants on individual support programmes. External partners include Speech and Language Therapy, the Hearing Support Service and Occupational Therapy. Parents begin discussions about their child’s learning with the class teacher, providing a direct starting point for arranging support.

Attending Beacons does not guarantee a Reception place at St Breock. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route by the applicable deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the school-place application as two separate decisions.

Morning and afternoon bookings can be combined into an all-day place. Beacons opens at 8.45am and closes at 3.30pm from Monday to Thursday, with a 2.30pm finish on Friday. The shorter Friday needs its own collection plan.

The school expects children to attend five mornings, using 15 funded hours. For families receiving only 15 hours, additional afternoons or Brock wraparound care attract charges. For families receiving 30 hours of funding, funding can also be allocated across afternoons or wraparound provision. Agree the intended combination with the school and request current charges before booking.

For nursery enquiries, email hello@stbreock.org.uk or telephone 01208 815900. To apply, complete the nursery application form; the school sends an acknowledgement by email. Families can also arrange a visit by telephone or email.