West Hill Primary School Nursery Review

Puppets, toothbrushing and Monster Phonics give West Hill’s pre-school day a distinctive rhythm. This is the nursery provision within West Hill Primary School in Hednesford, taking children from two years old. Its classes are Ants, Caterpillars and Bumblebees; Caterpillars caters for three-year-olds.

Early years provision was judged Good at the Ofsted inspection on 27 and 28 February 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery’s character is best understood through its classroom routines: time for children’s own choices sits alongside group stories, number work and attention to well-being.

In Caterpillars, the morning begins with activities children choose themselves, followed by a family group, a well-being check and a story or discussion about books. Toothbrushing follows. Indoor and outdoor activity periods then alternate, with focused maths, snacks, Monster Phonics and nursery rhymes giving the morning its shape. After lunch, musical movement or yoga precedes another group gathering and afternoon learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage brings together seven areas of development. Communication, physical development and social and emotional learning provide the starting points; children also explore reading and writing, maths, the world around them and creative expression. Adult-directed activities sit alongside play initiated by children. Caterpillars has free-flow access between its indoor space and outdoors, allowing learning to extend beyond the classroom.

Projects give these areas something concrete to work with. Caterpillars and Bumblebees explore Dangerous Dinosaurs, Once Upon a Time and Sunshine and Sunflowers, alongside smaller projects that respond to individual interests. Ants uses family photographs and self-portraits to explore identity, investigates floating and sinking, and uses dressing up, puppets and books for traditional tales.

In February 2024, pre-school teaching used songs, rhymes and letter patterns to develop children’s awareness of sounds. This prepared them for later phonics learning. At home, Caterpillars families can share reading books and record reading in diaries; homework is set on Wednesdays to extend classroom topics.

Settling starts before the first session. Families are invited to visit with their child and complete a care plan, giving staff an understanding of preferences and interests at home. Each child in Caterpillars has a keyworker in the room, whose identity is shared shortly after starting. That gives parents a clear first contact.

Communication includes parent afternoons each half term and conversations with staff at the beginning and end of sessions. Families can also share Star Moments, such as a new achievement or a favourite story, so staff learn about the child beyond nursery activities.

For additional needs, keyworkers work with the Early Years SENCo and Inclusion Manager, with outside agencies involved where appropriate. Parents with concerns begin with their child’s keyworker. All pre-school staff, including lunchtime supervisors, have paediatric first aid training and Dingley’s Promise training.

Caterpillars’ routine includes snack breaks and lunch. Children are encouraged to drink water throughout the day and should bring a named water bottle; squash is excluded from drinking bottles. Toothbrushing makes oral care part of the morning too.

Reception admission is separate. Attending West Hill’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal online school admissions route with Staffordshire Local Authority, meeting the normal application deadline. The local authority allocates places under its admissions policy.

Children joining Reception are invited to induction sessions near the end of the summer term before their September start. Parents also have an induction evening where they can raise questions. These are opportunities to prepare for the change, separate from the allocation of a place.

For pre-school enquiries, contact the school office on 01543 227125 or email office@westhill.staffs.sch.uk. Nursery open mornings include a staff meeting and school tour, with appointments and open-day information arranged through the office.

Caterpillars’ routine places lunch between 11.45am and 12.30pm, with morning departures between 11.35am and 11.45am and afternoon departures between 3.15pm and 3.30pm. These are classroom routine times: treat the agreed booking as the basis for planning collection.