St. Martin’s Primary School Nursery Opens its Doors to First Pupils

Tuesday, 21 October 2025 06:00

St Martin’s CE Primary School Nursery was officially opened on 15th October by Mark Lacey, CEO of the Diocese of Salisbury Academy Trust.

The nursery opened in early September and is already off to a great start with its initial group of children.

With capacity for just over thirty 2- to 4-year-olds, it helps address a local shortfall in childcare places for families in and around Salisbury.

Executive Headteacher Ollie Martindale explained that this shortage was a key factor in securing government funding for the project: “Across the country, around 650 schools applied to open a school-based nursery. St Martin’s is proud to be one of only two successful schools in Wiltshire, helping to expand access to high-quality early education and childcare for local families.”

One of the distinctive features of a school-based nursery is that qualified teachers lead the provision and work closely with other professionals to ensure children get the best possible start in life.

Head of School Becka Miller-Goddard said: “Whether children join our nursery for a year or begin their whole school journey with us, we see each child as a whole — supporting their wellbeing and learning side by side. From the very start, we set high expectations in early maths and writing, helping every child to thrive.”

For the official opening, Ollie and Becka were joined by the entire school community and the parents of the first cohort of nursery children. With help from those children, Mark Lacey cut the ribbon, planted an apple tree to mark the occasion, and led the school in a reflection. He commented: “St Martin’s has grown into a strong, confident school at the heart of its community. The relationships between staff, pupils, and families are a real strength, creating the perfect foundation for the new nursery to thrive and extend that sense of belonging to even more families.”

To register interest in the nursery or arrange a tour, prospective parents are encouraged to contact the school office or visit the school’s website: https://www.stmartins.dsat.org.uk/page/?title=St+Martin%27s+School+Nursery&pid=156