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Nursery at Upper Arley CofE 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Learning alongside older children shapes the nursery experience at Upper Arley CofE Primary School. Nursery children share play and learning with Reception, making this a mixed-age introduction to school life. The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds, with eight places per session. That session figure matters when considering the size of the provision; it is not a staffing ratio.
The setting belongs to a Church of England primary school in Upper Arley, Bewdley. In the Ofsted inspection of 20 and 21 February 2024, early years provision was judged Good. This was an early-years judgement within the school inspection.
Happy Hares Nursery combines physical activity, conversation and creative play. Its curriculum brings together the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas: learning to communicate, manage feelings, move confidently, explore numbers and understand the world, alongside early literacy and creative expression. These are connected skills: talking through a game also gives children practice in sharing ideas and playing together.
Counting happens through play, including comparing groups of objects and exploring shapes through construction. Creative work includes building with blocks, experimenting with colour and making props for pretend play. Stories, rhyme and conversation give children opportunities to listen, retell experiences and explain their thinking. Early-years art teaching introduces paintbrushes, pencils and tools for clay and playdough, linking making things with developing control of the hands.
Continuous provision gives children activities and resources to explore, while an outdoor learning environment extends learning beyond the classroom. The school aims to encourage independence and curiosity through this approach. The shared nursery and Reception arrangement places that exploration within a mixed-age group.
Early reading had a secure foundation in February 2024: children were learning to read and write taught sounds, with prompt help when they fell behind. Familiar books and repeated rhymes were part of the early learning described at that time. Repetition gives children another opportunity to practise language they recognise.
Preparation for entering EYFS includes offers of home visits and stay-and-play mornings. Learning records move between settings, and extra transition support can be arranged where needed. These steps connect a child's earlier experiences with the new setting rather than treating entry as a completely fresh start.
For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), support follows an assess, plan, do, review cycle. Parents contribute to decisions, and those receiving SEND support have meetings with the class teacher and SENCO three times each year. This gives families regular opportunities to discuss whether support needs adjusting. In February 2024, additional needs were being recognised promptly, beginning in early years.
Before children join, families provide health information, dietary requirements and food allergies, plus two emergency contact numbers. Early years and wraparound care also have a deputy designated safeguarding lead, giving those parts of the provision a specific safeguarding role.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority where they live, using the common application form. The closing date is 15 January before the child's usual start date.
For the 2027/28 intake, nursery attendance confers no Reception priority. Sharing learning with Reception children is an everyday connection with the next stage, not an admissions advantage. Keep the application deadline separate from nursery booking arrangements.
Morning and afternoon nursery sessions each last three hours and are funded through the Nursery Education Fund. Full-time places are also offered. Additional hours can be bought by the term when places remain available, so a longer attendance pattern depends on capacity.
Apply to the school directly for nursery. Enquiries go to the office on 01299 861260 or office@upperarleycofeschool.org. Visits can be booked by appointment, giving families an opportunity to see the provision before applying. Contact the school for current charges.
The nursery caters for three- and four-year-olds, with eight places in each session.
Yes. Nursery children play and learn alongside Reception children.
No. Reception requires a separate local-authority application, and nursery attendance gives no priority for the 2027/28 intake.
Three-hour morning or afternoon sessions and full-time places are offered. Extra hours can be purchased termly if places are available.
Parents contribute to planning and reviewing support. For children receiving SEND support, the class teacher and SENCO meet parents three times each year.
