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Nursery at Great and Little Shelford CofE (Aided) 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Rhyme time, a garden and children choosing their own activities give Rainbow its everyday character. This is the nursery provision managed by Great and Little Shelford CofE (Aided) Primary School, with children using the Rainbow Room and Sunbeams Room. The school has overseen the provision since April 2023.
Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at its inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Learning through play shapes the approach. Children register themselves, then choose from planned activities during the morning. This gives them a part in deciding what to do, within a session that also has familiar group routines. Pre-school rhyme time starts at 9:30am, and the morning ends with stories, songs, birthday celebrations and calendar activities.
The garden opens for Pre-school at 9:45am and for Sunbeams at 10:00am. Outdoor play therefore has an explicit place in the timetable alongside the two rooms. Children help put things away before gathering in their groups, making tidying part of the session rather than an adult-only task.
In March 2024, assessment in Pre-school helped staff decide what children should learn next. Across early years, staff knew their work well and built warm relationships with children, while teaching emphasised language, vocabulary and early literacy. For parents, the useful connection is between adults understanding a child's development and choosing the next learning step.
After lunch, the timetable includes outdoor play when weather allows. Tidying is followed by circle time before collection at 3:00pm.
Staffing ratios differ between rooms: one adult to eight children in Rainbow and one to five in Sunbeams. Staff undertake regular training, and the team includes a dedicated SENCO and two designated safeguarding personnel. These are identifiable responsibilities for additional needs and child protection within the nursery team.
Snack time also makes room for conversation. Pre-school children can choose when to eat at the snack table, sitting in small groups with adults and friends; Sunbeams have a set snack period. Children bring a snack and water bottle. Children staying for the optional lunch session bring a packed lunch, with reading or quiet play after eating. The midday routine includes a quieter interval before afternoon outdoor play.
Attending Rainbow does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority. Nursery and Reception applications are separate: parents must apply again through the normal school admissions process by its normal deadline. The school's admissions page directs families to Cambridgeshire County Council's admissions information and includes a Supplementary Information Form requirement.
Familiarity is a practical benefit, separate from admission. Children who subsequently join Shelford already know where the classroom, playground, hall and toilets are. Rainbow also has arrangements to support children moving to other local schools.
The nursery morning runs from 9:00am to noon. The optional lunch session runs from noon to 1:00pm, and afternoon collection is at 3:00pm. Children say goodbye to their adults at the room door and bring a bag and coat alongside their drink and snack. Administration goes through the school office, reachable on 01223 843 107 or office@shelford.cambs.sch.uk.
Changing sessions. Notice requirements are six weeks, or four weeks for funded hours. Plan changes around that commitment. Fees remain payable for registered days missed through illness or holidays; contact the school for current charges.
Consumables. The daily contribution covers food and non-food supplies and is voluntary, including for funded places. Parents can opt out through the Rainbow Administrator, and families on Pupil Premium are exempt. Term dates follow the school's pattern, with closures on bank holidays and school inset days.
No. Attendance gives no priority and does not guarantee a place. A separate Reception application is required.
The morning starts at 9:00am and ends at noon.
Children staying for the optional lunch session bring a packed lunch. It runs from noon to 1:00pm.
Rainbow Room has one adult to eight children; Sunbeams Room has one adult to five children.
No. Parents can opt out through the Rainbow Administrator, and the contribution is not a condition of a funded place. Families on Pupil Premium are exempt.
