The Elms Nursery and Pre-School

Familiar nursery staff accompany children into Pre-School, and lunch in the Prince Obolensky building becomes part of the transition. That planned move between stages gives The Elms Nursery and Pre-School a recognisable character: early childcare with a growing connection to the wider school setting.

Based at Trent College on Derby Road, Long Eaton, the nursery accepts children aged 2 to 48 months and has 20 places in total. Ofsted rated it Good on 12 June 2012. That is a dated judgement, rather than a current assessment of its daily practice.

The strongest practical details are the staged settling arrangements and, in Pre-School, an allocated key person and Tapestry, the online system through which parents receive care diaries and learning updates. Pre-School offers both a standard day and an extended day.

Learning and Activities

The EYFS provides the early-years framework, with children learning through play and experiences that support their development. At Pre-School, outdoor learning and play that allows children to move between activities sit alongside specialist lessons. The balance gives children opportunities to choose what they do as well as take part in organised sessions.

Forest School adds an outdoor learning approach. Children who have more than a year remaining in Pre-School begin with Forest School, then take up the other specialist lessons from September. Those moving to Reception in the following academic year access lessons including French, PE, Dance/Drama and Library sessions. The timing matters: the specialist timetable depends on the child's stage, rather than being identical for everyone.

Outdoor and Community Life

Pre-School has a refurbished playground, while activities also use the extensive grounds. These are concrete spaces for outdoor play alongside the indoor day. The school connection extends beyond lessons: families can attend Pre-School assemblies, Christmas nativity performances and the summer Family Fun Event.

Lunch during transition visits takes place in the Pre-School dining area within the Prince Obolensky building. Becoming familiar with that space before moving gives children a chance to experience a practical part of their next routine, as well as its activities.

Relationships and Communication

Each Pre-School child has a key person responsible for learning, social development and welfare. For children moving from Nursery to Pre-School, parents meet that person during Parent Stay & Play sessions. This gives the family a specific staff relationship to build on as the child changes stages.

In Pre-School, Tapestry brings observations, photographs and assessments together with the child's care diary, letters and important dates. Parents access it through an individual password-protected account after signing the agreement. Learning updates and practical messages therefore come through the same system, helping families keep track of both.

Settling takes different forms at the two stages. Nursery starters have several visits near their start date; parents can meet staff beforehand and receive a welcome pack. Pre-School starters have a stay and play visit, with further visits possible to support the move from home.

For children already attending Nursery, transition visits start during the latter half of the preceding term and familiar staff accompany them. A Parent Transition Meeting and holiday Parent Stay & Play sessions also form part of that process. The preparation involves parents as well as children.

The Catering team designs a seasonal menu each term, working to a three-week rotation. Menus are shared through Tapestry at the beginning of term, giving parents a view of the food planned for Pre-School.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is Trent College, Derby Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham, NG10 4AD. Opening hours are 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, across the year, with closures for bank holidays and Christmas.

For Pre-School, the standard day runs from 8am to 5pm; the Extended day option has collection at 6pm. An earlier start from 7.30am requires advance arrangement, is subject to availability and costs extra. Families comparing attendance patterns should distinguish the standard day from the later collection option.

Applications begin with an enquiry to the Admissions Team before formal registration. For Pre-School starters, an offer follows a successful stay and play visit. This is a specific application sequence, so completing an application alone does not establish an offer.

Funding and Paid Extras

Pre-School participates in 15 hour and 30 hour funded places, subject to availability. Private childcare is also offered. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

Moving on to School

The nursery and Pre-School share the Trent College and The Elms setting. Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place: families use The Elms' own school admissions process. Reception applicants have a separate stay and play session after registration, so the childcare choice and the school application remain separate decisions.

• Different Pre-School days. The standard day ends at 5pm, while the Extended day option allows collection at 6pm. During a visit, discuss which pattern fits your child's routine and how the later part of the day works.
• Specialist lessons by stage. Children with longer remaining in Pre-School start with Forest School before adding specialist lessons from September. Ask how that sequence would apply to your child's start date.
• Funded attendance and extras. Pre-School offers 15 hour and 30 hour funded places, subject to availability. Ask for a written breakdown of how funding fits your chosen days, including meals and consumables.

The Elms suits families looking for a standard Pre-School day or an extended day, with outdoor learning, specialist lessons and a carefully staged move from Nursery. Familiar staff during transition and Pre-School's Tapestry communication give parents concrete ways to stay involved. The school setting is part of its appeal, but Reception requires its own admissions process, and the Good judgement dates to 2012.