Healey Junior Infant and Nursery School Nursery Review

Language, listening and familiar routines give Healey’s early years provision its character. At the April 2022 inspection, children’s communication was a clear focus, with routines helping them concentrate and take part in learning. These are practical foundations for a young child’s first experience of school.

Nursery provision begins at three, within Healey Junior Infant and Nursery School on Healey Lane, Batley. The initial nursery allocation is 52 places for 2026/27. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 26 and 27 April 2022; that judgement covers early years within the school.

The Early Years Statutory Framework shapes the curriculum. Here, communication and creative exploration provide concrete examples of what that means for children: learning to listen, expressing ideas and experimenting with materials. In April 2022, children’s concentration and attitudes to learning benefited from the emphasis on language and routines.

Art sits within Expressive Arts and Design. Children investigate how materials look and feel, experiment with shape and colour, and choose materials to turn their ideas into something tangible. Some activities begin with children’s own choices; others are led by adults. Adults introduce vocabulary and techniques, giving children ways to talk about what they are making as well as opportunities to make it.

An early years playground has ramped access. Creative learning can also extend home: suggested nursery activities include building blanket dens, pouring rice with cups and scoops, and making nests inspired by Owl babies. These are suggestions for families, rather than a nursery timetable.

Early writing. In April 2022, some early years writing tasks demanded spelling that children had not yet learned. Activities needed closer alignment with their phonics knowledge. For parents, the relevant question is how writing tasks match the sounds and spellings their child has already practised.

A nursery nurse forms part of the nursery staffing, alongside the school’s early years leadership. For additional needs, the SENDCo coordinates support with teaching staff, families and specialist services. Support can include small-group adult help, activities adapted to individual needs and advice from speech and language specialists. Parents are involved in planning and reviewing that support, so the next steps are discussed together.

Physical access includes a ground-floor accessible toilet and ramps to the early years playground. These are useful features for families discussing their child’s individual access needs.

Early years lunchtime runs from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Packed lunches must exclude nuts and contain healthy food, making allergy precautions part of planning what to send.

Attending Healey’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. A separate application is required, and nursery attendance does not confer priority under the oversubscription criteria. Families must apply again through Kirklees Local Authority.

For September 2027 entry, the application route is the Kirklees coordinated scheme through its online Parent Portal, with a closing date of 31 October 2026. Keep that application separate from nursery registration.

Children moving between classes within Healey take part in a transition afternoon to meet their next teacher. That provides familiarity with the next stage; it does not change the Reception admissions decision.

Nursery registration enquiries go through the school office: email office@healeyschool.co.uk or telephone 01924 326386. The office also helps families complete forms.

For three- and four-year-olds, the early entitlement is 15 hours each week across 38 weeks, with up to another 15 weekly hours for parents or carers who are working or in training. The SEND Inclusion Fund supports emerging or lower-level additional needs among children accessing that entitlement. Funding and support therefore need to be considered together when planning a child’s place.