Pentland Primary School Nursery Review

Fence painting, listening games and a Gross Motor Provision Room give Pentland’s youngest children a day built around movement and language. The school’s Pre-School takes two-year-olds and children aged three and four, in a purpose-built space inside the 0–19 Family Hub on Ochil Terrace, beside the main school. The two-year-old provision has 24 places, accessible from a child’s second birthday.

Early years reached Expected standard in the Ofsted inspection published on 3 February 2026. Nursery children became familiar with routines quickly, responded to adults and developed independence. That gives parents a useful picture of the youngest children’s experience, separate from the school’s other judgements.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early literacy and number work. Here, listening games ask children to distinguish and repeat sounds before practising how speech sounds join together. Daily stories and nursery rhymes sit alongside small-world play and role play, giving children several ways to revisit language.

Movement has a clear purpose. In the Gross Motor Provision Room, children tackle physical challenges; outdoors, the mud kitchen zone provides materials and tools to explore. Outdoor access operates on a free-flow basis whenever opportunities allow. Fence painting with brushes and drawing with chunky chalk develop the movements needed for later writing. Kinetic Letters begins in Pre-School with the Strong Bear posture and other large movements, building strength before finer pencil work.

Number learning starts small: the two-year-old provision concentrates on numbers up to 3, while Nursery works up to 5. At snack time, children count fruit and milk using 5-frames. Numbers become something to handle and recognise in daily life.

Language expertise runs through the team. All staff have ELKLAN Speech and Language training, the setting holds Communication Friendly Setting Accreditation, and Pre-School staff hold Schema Play Accreditation. The inspection report published on 3 February 2026 found that early-years assessment identified learning gaps, with vocabulary and communication receiving close attention.

Before a child starts, Pentland prioritises a home visit involving their key worker and the EYFS Lead or class teacher. Staff learn about interests, routines and individual needs, so the first connection begins in familiar surroundings. The EYFS Lead combines the nursery teacher and Pre-School manager roles.

The inspection report published on 3 February 2026 found that adults responded sensitively when nursery children were upset. Zones of Regulation and conversations about feelings support emotional development, while families receive help with toilet training. Class Dojo gives parents a route to message teachers and follow classroom learning.

Children can stay for school lunch. Chartwells Schools provides the meals, with dietary requirements addressed through the catering arrangements. Parents supply allergy, dietary and health information before their child begins. For SEND, families are asked to discuss identified needs before starting so support can be planned; the school uses Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycles with parents involved in reviewing support.

Attending Pentland’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, which administers applications for the school. Treat that application as a separate task from securing nursery childcare.

Transition support has a different purpose. The EYFS Lead and SEND coordinator work with Reception staff, and early-years practitioners work across Pre-School and Reception. Sharing expertise and familiarity supports the move between classes; it does not secure admission.

For 15-hour places, two-year-olds can attend mornings or afternoons; three- and four-year-olds attend mornings. Funded provision for three- and four-year-olds covers school term time, for 38 weeks of the year. Thirty-hour places for both age groups run from 8.50am to 2.50pm, with a flexible 10-minute collection and drop-off window for families with older siblings. Paid afternoon sessions and wraparound care are also offered. Contact the school for current charges.

The breakfast club starts at 7.45am, and the after school club finishes at 5.30pm. Book wraparound through ParentPay before Thursday’s 23.59 deadline. This adds a booking task to the weekly routine.

Nursery children wear the compulsory active uniform: white polo shirt, blue top, plain black bottoms and the specified trainers. Preloved items are available free through the office. Nursery enquiries and visit appointments go through the school office on 01642 559609 or pentland@oneexcellence.co.uk.