South Normanton Nursery School: Nursery Review

Long Wavy Grass, Big Forest and stories children invent themselves give South Normanton’s nursery day its character. Play provides the starting point, with adults adding small-group teaching and opportunities to communicate. Outdoor learning has named spaces and a regular place in the timetable.

On Hamlet Lane, this Derbyshire maintained nursery school provides education for children aged three and four, with 52 places in each session. It is a nursery school in its own right, so the next step is to a separate infant school. Eligible children can join during the term in which they turn three; otherwise, entry begins the following term.

Sessions combine freedom to explore with familiar routines. Children begin with play indoors and access to the outdoor area, while staff support learning wherever children are playing. Small groups run during both sessions. Snacks are taken in the Caring Corner, and the closing group activity brings children together for singing, a story or Tales Toolkit. Children staying through lunch have a brief activity beforehand and outdoor play afterwards.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning with care and development. Here, that means building communication, movement and relationships alongside early mathematics, literacy, creative work and understanding the world. Planning draws on children’s interests and their next learning steps. Tales Toolkit gives storytelling a named approach: children shape stories using props connected to their interests. Long Wavy Grass extends outdoor exploration during the week, with Big Forest on Fridays through Forest Schools.

In May 2024, children were recognising quantities of dots without counting each one and constructing stories with characters and a problem to resolve. Teaching refinements. The May 2024 inspection identified inconsistent opportunities to practise newly learned vocabulary and signs, alongside unfinished curriculum sequencing and a need to strengthen staff assessment expertise. For families, the issue is whether adults consistently help children explain their thinking and match teaching to the next small step.

Settling begins before the first nursery session. Each new starter receives Monkey at home, with activities and a story about starting nursery. Monkey Club introduces children and parents to their Key Worker, other staff and future friends; a home visit helps staff understand the child’s interests. Children can bring Monkey with them and leave it in the Monkey Forest while they play.

Communication has several practical routes. Parents receive Our Learning Adventure each half-term, linking nursery activities with ideas for home. The Colour Monster provides a shared way to discuss feelings, while Makaton signs and symbols accompany speech throughout everyday practice. The staff structure includes a teacher, Early Years Educators and a Mid-day Supervisor.

SEND support includes an Early Years Specialist, with the headteacher acting as SENCO. The single-level building has an accessible toilet and an electronic changing mat. In May 2024, sensory activities in the rainbow room supported children with SEND, who made substantial progress from their starting points. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection.

Lunch is supplied by families in a labelled lunchbox; the nursery provides water and session snacks. Nuts are excluded, and families supplying nappies or pull-ups also provide wipes. Lunch rubbish goes back into the lunchbox so parents can see what their child has eaten.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application to the local authority, normally online. The nursery reminds parents about applications, with its guidance describing the process as starting in November before the intended September entry.

Children mainly move to The Green Infant School or The Brigg Infant School. Staff from those schools visit nursery and speak with keyworkers. Towards the end of nursery, Mouse goes home with activities from the child’s destination school and a first-day story. Mouse Club may also be offered there. Children with identified SEN receive additional visits or staff support during most visits, making transition preparation distinct from the allocation of a place.

Morning sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. A full day lasts from 8.30am to 3.30pm, with breakfast options starting at 7.30am and lunch extensions also offered. Earlier starters. Breakfast, lunch sessions and full days begin only in the term after a child turns three, so families using an earlier funded start need a morning or afternoon pattern.

Universal funding covers 15 hours weekly over 38 term-time weeks. Eligible working families can access 30 funded hours with a valid code, subject to space. At least two funded sessions of three hours each must be taken weekly. Extra hours depend on availability and the child’s needs. Snacks and optional trips carry charges; registration, consumables and meals do not. Families provide packed lunches. Contact the school for current charges.

JPAC Ltd provides off-site after-school care at Glebe Junior School until 6pm and holiday provision. Uniform combines navy knitwear, yellow polo shirts and grey bottoms; plain items are accepted, and wellies stay at nursery. Alternative collection times require prior agreement. Register interest through the admissions form or arrange a visit on 01773 810876 or info@southnormanton.derbyshire.sch.uk; registering interest does not secure a place.