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Nursery at Ilam Church of England Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Friday Forest School with Tanglewood gives Ilam’s nursery week a practical, outdoor thread. Nursery children belong to Hedgehogs, the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage class, alongside older children. This is nursery within a primary school’s daily life.
Children can start nursery in the term after turning three. Ilam has a Church of England character, and the school aims to develop curiosity and a love of learning.
Play and practical experience shape early learning here. Child-centred sessions sit alongside activities led by teachers, with early reading and maths given emphasis. For parents, that means the Early Years Foundation Stage combines children’s own exploration with adult guidance, rather than a day made entirely of formal lessons.
Hedgehogs uses White Rose for maths. Themes include Terrific Tales, All About Me, Come Outside and Amazing Animals, giving learning starting points in stories, children’s lives and the natural world. Plans can change to follow children’s interests. Nursery art includes underwater pictures made with sand, a concrete example of using materials to explore a theme.
Wednesday brings PE, with most lessons taking place outdoors. Friday is Forest School, led by Tanglewood: children wear clothes suitable for getting dirty and bring wellies separately, with waterproofs an option too. Outdoor activity therefore has a place in the weekly routine.
Age matters when activities are organised. For the June 2025 Team Rubicon enrichment event, nursery children were scheduled to use school bikes and scooters instead of joining the visiting workshop because of their age and size. This was their planned alternative.
Two class teachers share the Hedgehogs week, supported by a teaching assistant on weekday mornings. That describes the classroom team children spend time with, rather than implying an individual staffing ratio.
For school entry, summer visits and a parent meeting help families prepare for September. The SENCO also meets parents of new children with known special educational needs before entry, allowing concerns to be discussed early. These are school-wide arrangements.
Additional support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle. Parents help identify needs and review targets; speech and language support and work on fine and gross motor skills are among the school’s interventions. Medical needs can be supported through a Health Care Plan developed with parents and the school nurse.
In 2018, meals were cooked on site, and morning break included milk and toast for all children. Midday supervision also covered playground activities.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal local-authority process by the applicable deadline.
For the 2026–2027 admissions cycle, nursery attendance gives no oversubscription priority. Allocation instead uses criteria including care status, catchment residence, siblings, church membership and distance. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions.
The EYFS timetable has registration at 8:50am, a morning break from 10:30 to 10:45am, lunch from noon to 1pm and a school finish at 3:15pm. These are school-day timings.
Breakfast Club starts at 8am on weekdays and includes breakfast; booking is by email before 6pm the previous evening. After-school care runs Monday to Thursday until 5pm and includes a snack. These are school clubs.
Nursery applications use a separate application form. Contact the office at office@ilam.staffs.sch.uk or 01335 350316 for an enquiry. School visits can be booked through the office, giving families an opportunity to see the setting before choosing it.
Children can join in the term after their third birthday.
Nursery children are part of Hedgehogs, the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage class.
No. Reception requires a separate application. Nursery attendance gives no oversubscription priority for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle.
Hedgehogs children can wear clothes suitable for getting dirty on Fridays and should bring wellies separately. Some also bring waterproofs.
Call the school office on 01335 350316 to book an appointment.
