Holy Trinity Community Nursery Review

A carpet room for choosing activities and an outdoor area of its own give Holy Trinity Community Nursery a distinct place within its primary school. Based on Cross Road in Weymouth, the nursery takes children after their second birthday and provides sessions for three and four year olds too. Its pattern follows school terms rather than the holiday calendar.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Choosing an activity in the carpet room starts the session. Children also find their name card for the board and hang up their belongings, giving them small tasks to take on themselves. Morning and afternoon sessions each last three hours, with Lunch Club between them for children staying over lunchtime.

Learning sits within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Barefoot Computing Resources are used across early years alongside Development Matters guidance: the emphasis is on thinking through problems and working together. This introduces computing through ways of thinking, rather than simply using a device.

In March 2024, early years learning began with carefully selected knowledge, organised into manageable stages. Children in early years were achieving well. There was also a school-wide improvement requirement concerning how teaching and assessment helped pupils remember earlier learning and use it later. For parents, the distinction matters: the positive early years findings sit alongside a wider need to strengthen retention.

Settling is shaped around the individual child. Parents can remain at the start of a session until their child feels ready for them to leave, and an initial settling period is expected to last no more than two weeks. A longer period attracts charges. In March 2024, children in Nursery and the other early years classes were settling promptly with staff support.

A nursery teacher works alongside a nursery support team. Parents can speak with staff at either end of a session, while each child's tray holds letters and work to take home. Home visits and visits to preschool settings are offered in September to children joining Nursery, adding another opportunity to share information before the change.

Snacks are provided in both sessions. Lunch Club normally requires a packed lunch from home, with a labelled lunch box and a resealable plastic drinks bottle. Children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium can receive a school packed lunch on two days each week when attending a full day within their 15 funded hours.

For additional needs, the school's SEND support uses a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review. Parents help agree the support, and individual education plans have two or three outcomes reviewed termly. This gives families specific goals to discuss rather than a general promise of help.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through Dorset Council's School Admissions Team, following the normal application timetable. Applications begin on 1 September for the next academic year.

The 2025/26 arrangements gave no Reception priority for attending this nursery. Their feeder-school criteria excluded nurseries. Familiarity with the school should therefore be kept separate from the allocation of a place.

Sessions run Monday to Friday during term time, excluding school INSET days: mornings are 8:45am to 11:45am, afternoons 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and Lunch Club bridges 11:45am to 12:15pm. Early Start Club runs from 8:30am to 8:45am. Three and four year olds can also attend Breakfast Club and After School Clubs; Breakfast Club requires an additional nursery early-start booking.

Eligible two year olds can access up to 15 funded hours per week in term time from the term after their second birthday. Three and four year olds receive 15 funded hours from the term after turning three, with another 15 available through extended funding for eligible families. Hours beyond entitlement are charged. Resources and activities are included in fees; optional trips cost extra.

Paid services require advance booking and payment through Scopay. Reducing, cancelling or changing sessions requires half a term's written notice, so this suits families able to plan ahead. Contact the school office on 01305 783200 or office@holytrinitypri.dorset.sch.uk for nursery enquiries and current charges.

Drop-off and collection use the nursery gate. Late arrivals go through the office, and staff release children only to the adult recorded for collection. Tell the office if that adult changes.