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Nursery at Bowling Park 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
MindUP brings learning about feelings into Bowling Park’s nursery experience. Nursery children participated in the programme’s launch activities in Spring 2020, and its lessons are now part of classroom practice. The school aims to help children understand their emotions and develop ways to manage them, giving emotional development a place alongside learning through play.
This is nursery provision within a primary school operating across New Cross Street and Usher Street in Bradford. Both sites include nursery children, and the sites are one mile apart. That makes the choice of site a practical consideration for families. The school also has a Tiny Forest, planted by pupils, which it intends to use for environmental learning and mindfulness.
Play, exploration and solving problems shape the Foundation Stage approach. Children are encouraged to communicate and share, so learning includes working things out with other children rather than only completing an adult’s task. These are the early experiences through which Bowling Park aims to build confidence and resilience.
GEM, short for Going the Extra Mile, adds a distinctive theme. Special GEM Days take place three times per year across the school; in the early years foundation stage (EYFS), children explore careers through role play. Pretending to do different jobs gives them a concrete way to explore the working world.
MindUP supplies another strand. Its content concerns awareness of oneself, regulating emotions and managing stress. The school describes it as a programme intended to strengthen children’s emotional well-being. For parents, that places learning about feelings within classroom activity.
Additional support sits within the school’s wider team structure. Teaching assistants have training in ELKAN, NELI and WELLCOM for speech and language work, while individual teaching assistants support complex needs. These are school-wide arrangements, with support for a nursery child needing to be considered individually.
Families can also draw on Early Help. The pastoral team and designated safeguarding lead offer practical guidance, referrals to parenting courses and help contacting other organisations. Early Help action plans involve regular meetings with families, providing a route for concerns at home to be discussed alongside a child’s needs.
Safeguarding concerns can be raised with the safeguarding team by telephone or through a concern form. Parents therefore have a direct reporting route.
Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception process, using Bradford Council’s online application route and meeting the normal deadline. Nursery applications are handled by the school; applications for the main school are handled by the council. Keep those processes separate when planning your child’s next step.
Nursery children may wear their own clothes. Uniform is optional; those choosing it can follow the school’s clothing guidelines. This gives families flexibility over what their child wears.
To apply for nursery, complete an application form at the school office. The nursery enquiry telephone number is 01274 770270, and the office email is office@bowlingparkacademy.co.uk.
No. A separate Reception application is required through Bradford Council’s online application route.
Complete a nursery application form at the school office. Nursery admissions are handled by the school.
No. They may wear their own clothes, or choose uniform following the school’s guidelines.
Both New Cross Street and Usher Street include nursery provision. The two sites are one mile apart.
MindUP is a learning programme concerned with emotional well-being, self-awareness and managing feelings. Nursery children participated in its Spring 2020 launch activities, and its lessons are incorporated into classroom practice.
