St Mary's Fields Academy Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, forest area and newly refurbished classrooms give Chestnut Nursery a day built around practical exploration. This is St Mary's Fields Academy's Foundation Stage 1 provision in Leicester, with entry in September after a child's third birthday. It sits within the school's early years provision, so the nursery has a distinct class identity within a wider school setting.

Communication, physical development and children's social and emotional growth are the school's stated priorities. Those priorities take concrete form in stories, movement and play, rather than resting on an abstract promise about preparation for school. No Ofsted graded rating yet.

The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, is the framework for young children's learning, development and care. Here, adult-guided activities sit alongside exploration and play. Staff observe children and use information from home to shape learning around their starting points and emerging interests. That gives families a role in explaining what their child can already do.

Songs, stories and nursery rhymes bring language into everyday activity. The early years provision uses Talk Boost and NELI for communication support, alongside KTC phonics. Number learning also moves beyond a maths activity: children encounter measurement through cooking, counting through the kitchen's dinner order, and mathematical ideas through construction and role play. These are tangible reasons for children to use new words and numbers.

Outside, raised beds and a garden sit alongside climbing equipment, a large sandpit and water play. The forest area and mud kitchen add further opportunities for sensory exploration. Big Moves provides a named physical development intervention, while Chestnut's PE day is Wednesday.

Indoors, the early years refurbishment introduced natural materials, softer lighting and replacement flooring. A sensory room occupies the early years corridor. Together, these give children different spaces for active exploration and sensory experiences; the school intends the sensory room to support emotional regulation too.

Settling starts with contact between home and school: families have welcome meetings, home visits and opportunities to stay and play at the beginning of the school year. These let parents share their child's interests and needs before daily routines become familiar. Chestnut has class teachers and teaching assistants.

Tapestry carries updates on children's learning, while Knowledge Organisers explain learning topics and vocabulary for families to use at home. Parents are encouraged to raise concerns with their child's teacher, with urgent questions directed to the office. The connection continues beyond settling-in.

For additional needs, an Assistant SENCO has responsibility for EYFS and Year 1. The school aims to agree support with families and involve specialist services where appropriate, including the Early Years Support Team and speech and language therapy. For children with SEND moving between classes, staff pass on written records and arrange a meeting between the SENCO and the receiving teacher. This keeps information about useful strategies attached to the child.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at St Mary's Fields Academy. Families must make a separate application through Leicester City Council's School Admissions department and meet the deadline for their child's entry year. Treat that application as a separate task, even when nursery routines already feel familiar.

Support with changing classes is a practical matter distinct from admission. For children with SEND, the handover of records and discussion of strengths, targets and support strategies can help the next teacher prepare.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am. The nursery curriculum information gives an afternoon session of noon to 3:00pm; the Foundation Stage 1 timetable instead starts it at 11:45am. Confirm the applicable afternoon start when arranging a place. The timetable also gives a full-time day of 8:45am to 3:00pm.

Funded morning places cover 15 hours, with 30-hour funded places for families eligible under the government scheme. Families who do not qualify for the latter can arrange paid additional hours directly with the school. Ask the school for current charges.

Register interest through the nursery's online form or take the child's birth certificate to the school office. Enquiries go to 0116 2824623 or office@stmarysfieldsacademy.co.uk, and school visits can be arranged through the office. Children need a book bag and plastic water bottle. The school requests blue sweatshirts, cardigans or fleeces, with grey or black bottoms and a blue or white shirt; logo-free options are accepted.