Beverley Manor Nursery School: nursery review

Independent baking in the Children’s Kitchen gives Beverley Manor Nursery School a distinctive starting point: children tackle real tasks, with independence built into their learning. This is a nursery school on Manor Road in Beverley, providing education and care for children aged 2–5. Children can begin after their second birthday, subject to a place being available.

The building has a single storey, with disabled access and facilities. Inside, an art studio and sensory room add different spaces for exploration. The emphasis is on children doing things for themselves, rather than simply watching adults demonstrate them.

Learning follows children’s questions. Projects can run for hours, days or months, giving an interest time to develop into an investigation. STEAM brings together science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics; Love of Language, Your Community and Executive Functioning complete the curriculum’s four cornerstones. Birth to 5 matters guides expectations about development.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects early reading and number work with movement, communication, relationships, creativity and understanding the world. Here, those areas meet through play and practical activity. Each group has a key teacher, providing a familiar adult around whom group learning is organised.

In June 2024, Ofsted found that language development received close attention, with stories introducing vocabulary and songs giving children opportunities to practise. Mathematics also ran through everyday activity: children built shapes from sticks and discussed their sides. Butter-making experiments prompted children to explain changes, while a potter’s wheel required persistence. These are concrete ways to connect talk, thinking and hand skills.

The Children’s Kitchen allows children to build towards baking independently. Forest School takes some learning outdoors, alongside qualified practitioners. An equipped art studio gives creative work its own space, while the sensory room provides another setting for exploration. Together, a six-week Artist in Residence project with Square Peg, involved printing with collected leaves and flowers, making collages and creating small books. Children’s surroundings became material for their artwork.

Teachers work alongside Leaders in Learning and lunchtime supervisors. The majority of staff hold qualifications at level 3 or above. For concerns about provision, parents speak first to the key worker, then approach the headteacher or SENCO if needed. That gives families a clear sequence for raising a difficulty.

Settling support has included office staff checking on a child who struggled with separation and sending their parent updates and supportive emails. Tapestry gives parents secure access to photographs and videos of learning; families can add observations from home too. It creates a connection between what children do in nursery and what parents see elsewhere.

Snacks, milk and water are accessible during sessions. Children help themselves, eat alongside peers and wash their own dishes, making snack time part of learning independence. Families supply a packed lunch when children stay over lunchtime. Information about products containing allergens is available on request.

In June 2024, additional needs were identified promptly, specialist agencies helped shape support, and individual learning plans were used where needed. Safeguarding arrangements were effective at that inspection. Conversations and gentle prompts helped children understand feelings and manage behaviour.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions route and meet its deadline. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the school admissions contact for the next stage.

Readiness and admission are separate matters. Practising tasks independently, sustaining attention and taking responsibility can help children prepare for school; these experiences do not secure their next place.

During school terms, opening runs Monday to Friday, from 7:30am to 5:10pm. Morning education is 9am–noon; afternoons run 12:45pm–3:45pm. Breakfast Club and After-School Club extend the day. Children staying for lunch have a 12pm–12:45pm interval.

Booking commitment. The usual minimum booking is four sessions; fewer may be considered in exceptional circumstances, with the headteacher referring the request to the governing body. Places of 25 or more hours a week receive priority. Families should factor that pattern into their childcare plans. Sessions and wraparound depend on availability; permanently cancelling sessions requires four weeks’ written notice, excluding term-time holidays and medical absences.

Children aged three or four can use their 15-hour funded entitlement, plus an additional 15 hours where applicable. Extra time is charged, and there is a voluntary School Fund contribution. Ask the office for current charges. Uniform is optional. A responsible adult must bring and collect children, and families should notify staff when someone different will collect. Enquiries go to beverleymanor.nursery@eastriding.gov.uk or 01482 882631.