Horninglow Primary School Nursery

A morning, an afternoon or a day running to 3pm: Horninglow’s nursery gives families three session options within the primary school site on Horninglow Road North in Burton-on-Trent. The school takes children from age three. For parents, the practical distinction is the choice between a shorter session and an all-day place linked to 30-hour funding.

The nursery team includes a teacher with responsibility for the Early Years Foundation Stage, alongside higher-level teaching assistant and teaching assistant roles. That places teaching and classroom support together within the nursery provision.

Short topics organise learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They bring together its three prime and four specific learning areas, with reading, writing and mathematics forming part of the early-years focus. These topics bring reading, writing and mathematics into early-years learning.

Songs, rhymes and stories give children repeated opportunities to listen and speak. In October 2024, children in the early years developed their spoken language through these activities and established an understanding of number in mathematics. Classroom routines were also established in the early years. These are concrete foundations for joining in with learning: understanding expectations, using language and becoming familiar with numbers.

Music has a named approach. During the 2025–26 academic year, Sing Up provided the music programme from nursery onwards, connecting listening and singing with playing and creating music. This gave musical activity a planned place in the curriculum.

For children staying all day, lunch falls between 11:50am and 12:20pm. The afternoon session starts at 12:20pm, giving the day a clear break between its morning and afternoon blocks.

Early identification of additional needs matters at this age. In October 2024, the school identified special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) promptly and accurately, including among early-years children. Parents and outside agencies contributed to support where needed. This gives families a role in discussing their child’s needs rather than leaving support solely to classroom staff.

Aspens cooks and serves hot meals on the school premises. Meal payments use ParentPay. For an all-day nursery place, the scheduled lunch period makes food part of the day’s organisation; contact the school for current meal charges.

Safeguarding concerns can be raised with the school’s safeguarding team. Children can also speak to any staff member about a worry, providing a route beyond a single designated adult.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Staffordshire County Council and meet the local authority’s closing date. The application window runs from early November to mid January; applications should be submitted by the council’s published deadline.

For September 2027 entry, nursery attendance carries no oversubscription priority. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to be a decision about the nursery experience itself, while the Reception application remains a separate task.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon, afternoons from 12:20pm to 3pm, and all-day places from 9am to 3pm. The all-day option is linked to 30-hour funding, with eligibility conditions applying.

Contact the school office about nursery availability and applications on 01283 247618 or at office2.hrn@affinitylp.co.uk. Prospective parents can arrange a school tour and a meeting with the leadership team before their child starts.

A responsible adult should accompany children to school. If someone different will collect your child, notify the school by telephone or with a morning message so staff know about the change.