Chickadees Pre-school at Chickerell Primary Academy

Wrapping Christmas presents became a chance to explain a task at Chickadees: children could describe the equipment they needed and how to use it. That small example captures the emphasis on language and growing independence in Chickerell Primary Academy’s own pre-school.

Chickadees sits on the school site at Rashley Road in Chickerell, Weymouth. In December 2024, the provision catered for children aged three years upwards. It is the academy’s nursery provision, so the focus here is the experience before Reception.

Communication has a clear place in the learning. At the inspection on 3 and 4 December 2024, pre-school children explained their Christmas wrapping activity, showing that they understood both the materials and the sequence involved. This makes language purposeful: children use words to describe something they are doing, rather than simply naming objects.

The early years foundation stage combines learning to cooperate with becoming more independent. In December 2024, children were developing these habits from the start of early years, including pre-school. For parents, that means the learning includes how to take part alongside other children as well as how to tackle something independently.

In December 2024, getting used to daily routines and staff expectations was part of learning, alongside first steps in reading, writing and mathematics. Children’s confidence showed in their ability to put ideas into short sentences. These are practical foundations for taking part in a group, understanding what happens next and communicating an idea.

The academy aims to include children in their classrooms regardless of additional needs. An Inclusion Leader supports teaching and support staff with adaptations to learning. For a family considering Chickadees, that school-level structure provides a starting point for discussing an individual child’s needs.

Physical support spaces within the school include a sensory base and the nest, a room for learning regulation and pastoral support. Speech and Language Therapy and Lego therapy are among the school’s interventions. These are school-wide arrangements; their relevance to a particular pre-school child needs to be considered individually.

Safeguarding concerns are logged through My Concern so designated safeguarding leads can review them and act. Parents with a concern about a child’s welfare can ask to speak to a safeguarding lead. That gives families a direct route for raising a worry.

Attending Chickadees does not guarantee a Reception place at Chickerell Primary Academy. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal school admissions route and meet the normal deadline.

The Reception application route is through Dorset Council, and the academy uses Dorset admissions criteria. Keep the school-place application separate from the decision to attend pre-school: familiarity with the school does not itself secure admission.

For general enquiries, contact the school office at office@chickerell.dorset.sch.uk or telephone 01305 579148. The academy’s address is Rashley Road, Chickerell, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 4AT.

The office is also the general contact route for families wishing to communicate with the Chair of Governors.