Horton Grange Primary School Nursery Review

Storytelling, construction and outdoor play give Horton Grange’s nursery its practical character. The school combines Nursery with 2sCan, its provision for two-year-olds, on the school site in Bradford. The admission numbers are 104 for Nursery and 36 for 2sCan. These are admission numbers, rather than a count of children attending one session.

Early years provision received a Good judgement at Ofsted’s inspection on 24 and 25 September 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, including its two-year-olds, rather than a separately inspected nursery. In September 2024, clear routines helped children take turns, share and develop independence. Conversation with adults was a substantial part of learning.

Sessions combine activities led by adults with time for children to choose their play. Crafts, songs and stories sit alongside outdoor activity. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings these experiences together: children develop communication, relationships and physical skills while also exploring early literacy, mathematics, the world around them and creative expression. Learning to cooperate matters alongside learning to count.

Bug Club supports phonics from the start of Nursery, with listening activities and opportunities to use reading skills both indoors and outside. Mathematics follows Development Matters: children compare quantities, sort objects and practise counting through play and stories. Early writing includes drawing, making marks and trying out letters, linking hand control with an understanding of print.

Construction makes the curriculum tangible. Children build models with construction kits in different sizes, try ways of joining materials and explore Puppets and Pop-Ups. Barefoot Computing introduces ways to solve everyday problems and work out the steps needed for a task.

An outdoor area provides equipment for developing movement and hand control. Music involves rhymes, experimenting with sounds and matching actions to songs. The combination gives children several ways to participate, through talking, making and moving.

Early writing. In September 2024, children learned letter formation from early years, but opportunities to rehearse it were insufficient and mistakes were not corrected consistently. Accurate letter formation is therefore a useful focus when discussing a child’s early writing with staff.

Learning to manage relationships is part of the nursery day. Early years personal and social learning covers meeting new people, recognising personal boundaries and being sensitive to other people’s needs. In September 2024, frequent exchanges between children and adults supported language development, while established routines helped children manage sharing and waiting.

For special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), families can contact the school office and ask for the SENDCo. Curriculum questions about a child’s year group can go to their class teacher. These give parents direct routes to discuss learning and support.

School meals are paid for through ParentPay, with cash payments excluded. Milk registration is through Cool Milk UK. These are school arrangements; families should refer to the school for current charges.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Bradford Council Admission team. Nursery and 2sCan applications are handled by the school, while the local authority processes admission to the main school. Treat the two applications as separate decisions when planning ahead.

Nursery mornings run from 8:35am to 11:35am; afternoons run from 12:05pm to 3:05pm. Two split-week patterns are also offered: Monday and Tuesday from 9:05am to 3:05pm plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon plus Thursday and Friday from 9:05am to 3:05pm. Another option runs Monday to Friday, 9:05am to 3:05pm. The split patterns give families alternatives to attending the same short session throughout the week.

A 30-hour Nursery place depends on eligibility. Eligibility criteria also apply to places in the two-year-old provision. Contact the school office on 01274 573287 or office@hortongrangeacademy.co.uk for applications. Families can also request a visit through the school’s enquiry form.