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Nursery at Grassmoor 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Storytelling spills into play at Grassmoor: nursery children use songs and the language of stories as they explore. Independence gets daily practice too, from finding their own name card to putting away a snack beaker. These small routines give children things they can manage for themselves.
The nursery belongs to Grassmoor Primary School in Chesterfield and welcomes children from the term following their third birthday. There are 26 morning places and 26 afternoon places, with 15-hour and 30-hour options. A nursery teacher and teaching assistants make up the classroom team. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 23 and 24 April 2025; that judgement covers early years within the school.
Choosing and exploring are central to the day. Children can independently use classroom equipment and move between resources and the outdoor area. The role-play corner, investigation area and space for art and craft provide different starting points: pretending, investigating and making. Sand and water play sit alongside areas for maths, writing and books. Choice has a physical shape here.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas of development, spanning movement, relationships, language, early reading and maths, creativity and understanding the world. Learning happens through play, sustained involvement and thinking through ideas. Painting, glue, clay and play dough give children practical ways to experiment with materials rather than working only on paper.
Reading begins in nursery, and Little Wandle is the named phonics programme. In April 2025, early years children shared books with adults and other children, while nursery play drew on stories and songs. Children also cared for minibeasts and explored words describing position. These activities connect language with something children can do and observe. The early years findings describe children becoming independent and taking an active interest in learning.
Milk or water and fruit are provided in each session. Children fetch their snacks and clear away their beakers themselves, making this another opportunity to practise everyday skills. Families can send a water bottle. Easy-to-remove clothes help with toileting, while washable clothing suits the messy activities.
Daily conversations, Class Dojo updates and termly parent consultations keep families involved. A topic newsletter each term also suggests ways to extend learning at home, including finding related library books. Before a child starts, the nursery teacher contacts the family during the preceding term and invites them to an open evening, creating an opportunity to prepare together.
For additional needs, parents can approach their child's teacher or a SENCO. The school's SEND provision includes identifying needs early and connecting families with external services. Its Early Help Offer also covers family concerns such as sleep difficulties, morning routines and bereavement, with assessments and review meetings where support is needed.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Derbyshire County Council. The admission criteria listed by the school do not give priority for nursery attendance; they include care status, the normal admission area and siblings, with straight-line distance deciding between children meeting the same criterion in categories 2 to 6.
Transition activities serve a different purpose. The Reception induction programme includes a classroom morning, a full day incorporating lunch and a Play & Stay session with a parent. These experiences introduce classroom routines and the new teacher. They do not change the admissions process.
Nursery applications go through the school's admission form. Families provide their child's full name, birth date, address and telephone number. Indicating interest in a 15-hour or 30-hour place is also useful, rather than required. For enquiries, contact the school office on 01246 850349 or email info@grassmoor.derbyshire.sch.uk.
A polo shirt and school sweatshirt or cardigan form the nursery uniform, with purchases through the office. Bring a coat and footwear suited to outdoor play, as well as clothes your child can manage when using the toilet.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday.
The nursery offers 15-hour and 30-hour places, with 26 places in the morning and 26 in the afternoon.
Children choose classroom resources and use the outdoor area. Activities include role play, art, sand and water play, books and investigation, alongside everyday independence routines.
Staff communicate daily, use Class Dojo for updates and hold parent consultations each term. Families also receive a termly topic newsletter.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Derbyshire County Council, and the school's listed admission criteria do not give priority for nursery attendance.
