St Anne's CofE VC Primary School Nursery Review

Mud, growing vegetables and a small orchard give St Anne’s Nursery its outdoor character. Part of St Anne's CofE VC Primary School on Wyre Hill in Bewdley, it provides for children aged 2–4, with entry from the term after their second birthday. Conker and Acorn are the nursery groups. A nursery teacher who also leads the early years works alongside teaching assistants qualified in EYFS.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 24 and 25 June 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play and adult guidance share the session. Children self-register, choose activities and then gather for learning together through stories, music, rhymes or games. A snack follows, before further exploration indoors or outside. Another group gathering closes the morning, giving children time to discuss their discoveries. Afternoon-only children have their own group learning opportunity.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides planning around children’s development. Here, themes sit alongside children’s interests, with adults using small groups to practise skills or introduce ideas. In June 2025, language development, recognising letters and counting were effective features of the youngest children’s learning. Carefully planned activities allowed adults to match their conversations and help to individual needs.

Indoors, a sofa makes space for sharing books; blocks, miniature animals and vehicles invite children to build imagined worlds. Paint and glue support making, while accessible, labelled equipment lets children choose materials themselves. Outside, the mud kitchen, slope and construction space offer different kinds of exploration. Children also use the forest area, fields and orchard, with seasonal gardening sessions and cooking sessions led by the school cook. Waterproof clothing is provided, making messy outdoor activity part of the routine.

Settling starts with shorter sessions during the first week, which parents can attend. Many children move to their usual sessions in the second week, but the nursery teacher and family can agree a longer settling period. For paid places, shorter introductory sessions are charged, with the full booked sessions charged from week two. Families should allow time for this adjustment when planning work commitments.

Dojo carries messages between home and the nursery team; Tapestry shares photographs and learning experiences. Parents can contribute their own updates too. SEND support includes a coordinator and teaching assistants, with classroom help and group interventions across early years. Nursery staff discuss developmental concerns with parents and work with health and support professionals.

Lunch is eaten in the nursery. Children attending all day or afternoons can bring a packed lunch or have a hot meal prepared in the school kitchen. Book school meals through ParentPay by midnight on the preceding Sunday; hot lunches are excluded during the first week’s settling visits. Tell staff about allergies before your child starts. For rest, cushions, soft toys and blankets furnish a quiet space; staff try to accommodate a child’s usual sleep routine where possible.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. A separate application goes through the School Admissions Team by the January before the intended September start. For the 2026/27 intake, nursery attendance confers no priority under the admission criteria. Treat the nursery choice and Reception application as separate decisions.

Transition support follows the child’s allocated destination. Children with a St Anne’s Reception place make classroom visits, and the Reception teacher visits nursery sessions and discusses individual needs with the team. For children going elsewhere, staff liaise with the receiving school to arrange a teacher visit and share learning information.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, with afternoons from noon to 3pm. Funded sessions operate on five days each week during term time, across 38 weeks. Bookings cover a term, changes require two months’ notice, and the three-hour blocks cannot be divided. Preferred sessions depend on availability.

Universal funding covers 15 weekly hours from the term after a third birthday; eligible working families may receive up to 30. Some two-year-olds qualify for funding, including eligible working families for 30 hours. Additional sessions are charged, and a consumables contribution is optional. Ask the school for current charges.

The Orchard provides separately booked, paid wraparound care in the main school building; eligible funding cannot cover these hours. Enquiries go to nursery@stannesprimary.worcs.sch.uk, with a nursery visit arranged after the enquiry. Send named, easy-to-manage clothes, spare changes and wellingtons. Collection uses the main nursery entrance, and staff must know about any change of collector. Car-park access is reserved for blue badge holders with a school parking pass.