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Nursery at St James Church of England First School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Caterpillars becoming butterflies, sand mixed with water, and familiar stories joined in aloud: the nursery at St James has concrete examples of learning through observation, touch and language. The Cottage is on the school site in Gaunts Common, near Wimborne, and includes provision for two-year-olds. It became part of the school in September 2024.
Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 4 and 5 February 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. The nursery-specific observation was of children concentrating on The Gingerbread Man and participating in its rhymes.
Stories connect with things children can investigate. For a Life Cycles topic, the nursery brought in caterpillars alongside The Hungry Caterpillar. Children watched them grow, form chrysalises and emerge as five butterflies, which were then released in the Peace Garden. This gave the story a living counterpart: children could follow change over time rather than encounter it only in pictures.
An Under The Sea topic brought a different kind of exploration. Children handled sand and water, described the sensations and combined the materials to alter their texture. Here, sensory play supplied something specific to talk about. Describing how a mixture feels connects practical exploration with using words to explain an experience.
Participation extends beyond topic activities. Nursery children joined the school's May Pole celebrations, performing traditional English dances. The Peace Garden also hosted a nursery leaving celebration where children showed their artwork, sang and recited a poem for their families. These are examples of children sharing what they have learnt through movement, making and performance, rather than a promise about the timetable of every session.
For families discussing special educational needs and disabilities, the school's SEND coordinator can be contacted through the office. This gives parents a direct route to discuss their child's needs with the role responsible for coordinating support.
The nursery leaving celebration also brought families together around children's work and performances. Artwork, a song and a poem gave parents concrete examples of their children's participation, with the Peace Garden providing the setting for that shared occasion.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing nursery provision and securing a school place as separate decisions.
The nursery's leaving celebration marks the end of children's time there, but a celebration is distinct from admission entitlement. Familiarity with the school should not be read as a promise of a Reception place.
Contact the school office at office@stjames.dsat.org.uk or on 01258 840669 for nursery enquiries. The school is in Gaunts Common, Wimborne, BH21 4JN. The same office provides the contact route for the SEND coordinator, so families can bring questions about their child's needs into that conversation.
Yes. The Cottage includes provision for two-year-old children.
Examples include watching caterpillars develop into butterflies, exploring the texture of sand and water, and joining in story rhymes.
The school's early years provision was graded Good at the inspection on 4 and 5 February 2025. This was a school early years judgement, not a separate nursery rating.
No. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process.
Contact the school office at office@stjames.dsat.org.uk to speak with the SEND coordinator about your child's needs.
