Hazel Slade Primary Academy Nursery

Getting to know children starts before their first nursery session here. Staff visit families at home or meet children at their previous nursery, giving parents an early opportunity to explain their child's needs. Hazel Slade's governor-run nursery is based within the primary academy in Cannock and takes children from age 3.

Morning and afternoon sessions shape the nursery timetable. The morning session begins at 08:45; the afternoon starts at 12:15, with nursery hometime at 15:15. These are useful anchors for organising the family day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers early learning and care. Its learning areas bring together movement, communication, relationships, early reading and mathematics, creativity and discovering the world. For parents, that means development extends beyond learning letters and numbers.

In September 2022, nursery children were learning to recognise sounds around them as preparation for later phonics teaching. Listening comes first. This gives a concrete example of how the nursery builds foundations before children begin more formal learning.

Before starting, home visits or visits to a child's previous nursery allow staff to discuss existing support and any professionals already involved. Where SEND has already been identified, the special educational needs coordinator also attends. That gives families a way to bring their child's established needs into planning from the outset.

Teaching assistants support every EYFS class. Across the school, teachers and teaching assistants have Autism Level 1 training, and support programmes include Time to Talk, Lego therapy and NELI. These are school support resources; the support chosen for an individual child is planned with the class teacher and SEND coordinator.

Parents help review additional support three times a year. An Individual Education Plan records targets and interventions, giving those discussions something specific to work through. Families with concerns can speak to the child's class teacher or the SEND coordinator.

Personal care is agreed with parents, including help with eating or toileting. For medicines, parents complete a form explaining administration instructions; medicines are stored in the office, with refrigeration where needed. Care plans are developed with the family and school nurse and shared with staff working with the child.

Calm areas across the school provide somewhere quieter when a child needs time away from the classroom. An accessible toilet and a portable ramp for hall access are practical features for families considering mobility needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Staffordshire admissions by the closing date for their entry year.

For 2027/28, there is a specific, conditional priority: children who attended Hazel Slade Nursery and receive the Early Years Pupil Premium fall within the third oversubscription category, after cared-for or previously cared-for children and qualifying siblings. Nursery attendance alone does not confer this priority. Families should keep the entitlement condition separate from the familiarity their child gains through attending nursery.

Enquiries go through the school office on 01543 227115 or by email to hazelslade@sbmat.org.

At collection, early years children are released individually to parents, with staff available for regular conversations. Late arrivals must be accompanied to the office to sign in.

The Hub provides childcare before and after school and is open to all pupils. For a child with SEND using it, parents meet staff and the SEND coordinator to plan support. There is no designated parent parking on the school grounds, so factor that into collection arrangements.