Eden Nursery at Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School

Stories, conversation and learning through play shape Eden Nursery/Pre-School, the nursery provision at Beechcroft St Paul's CofE Primary School on Corporation Road in Weymouth. It belongs to a Church of England primary school, with Christian values also shaping its early years curriculum. The emphasis is on children finding their voice, understanding relationships and beginning to make choices for themselves.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Requires improvement in February 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play has a learning purpose here. Eden follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with stories, conversations and activities led by adults giving children opportunities to explore ideas and practise communicating. In parent terms, the emphasis includes learning to listen, express thoughts, cooperate and become more independent, alongside discovering the world around them.

Three curriculum drivers give this work a direction. Broadening Our Horizons introduces unfamiliar experiences and vocabulary. Understanding Our Place in the World explores belonging and relationships through stories, festivals and nature. Becoming Responsible Decision Makers focuses on choices, solving problems and recognising how actions affect other people. These themes connect learning with situations young children can understand.

Books and spoken language receive particular attention across early years. Children are encouraged to listen attentively, speak confidently and use complete sentences. The school uses Sounds Write for its structured phonics approach, while conversation gives children opportunities to practise the language they need for learning.

There is an important qualification to this picture. In February 2024, some early years children were not gaining sufficiently secure understanding or language across the curriculum. Adults demonstrated learning during guided activities, but this did not consistently translate into progress across all areas. By January 2025, deliberately planned activities were helping extend children's knowledge, with communication, language and personal development remaining priorities.

Settling depends on relationships as well as routines. In February 2024, warm connections with adults helped early years children settle, and children understood expectations during shared stories. Familiar routines gave them a clear structure for participating in learning.

Support also sits within the school's wider inclusion team. An Inclusion Lead works with families and specialists, and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants provide additional emotional support. The Nest is a school space intended to help children with confidence, social interaction and wellbeing. These are school-wide arrangements, rather than a separate nursery support service.

Class Dojo is the school's main channel for parent communication. Class updates can include photographs and activities, giving families starting points for conversations about learning. Safeguarding responsibilities include a deputy designated safeguarding lead for EYFS, so early years has a specific role within the school's safeguarding team.

Attending Eden does not guarantee a Reception place at Beechcroft St Paul's. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

For enquiries, contact the school office at office@beechcroft.dsat.org.uk or call 01305 783500. The office opens Monday to Friday, from 8:15am to 3:45pm. Those are office hours, rather than nursery session times, and give parents a practical window for contacting the team.