New Whittington Community Primary School Nursery

Imaginative play and signing give New Whittington’s early years provision its clearest character. Adults join children’s make-believe activities to develop language, while children use British Sign Language (BSL) to share signs connected with their stories. For a parent choosing a nursery, these are concrete examples of how communication becomes part of learning rather than a separate exercise.

The nursery belongs to New Whittington Community Primary School on London Street in Chesterfield, where the school’s age range starts at three. It sits within the primary school’s provision. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 16 and 17 July 2024. That judgement concerns early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Play provides an opportunity for conversation here. In July 2024, children maintained their attention during activities, and adults participated in their imaginative play to extend their communication and language. The useful detail is the adult’s involvement: children’s own play supplies the starting point for developing how they express themselves.

That gives parents something more specific to consider than a general promise of learning through play. An imaginative activity can also be a language activity, with an adult participating alongside the child. The early years findings connect children’s concentration with their participation in activities, giving a picture of children spending sustained time on what they are doing.

Stories bring another form of expression. In July 2024, early years children enthusiastically demonstrated signs associated with the stories they read. British Sign Language therefore features in the early years experience as well as spoken communication. For families, the distinctive point is the connection between signing and stories: children have another way to express something from their reading.

Adult participation is also the clearest evidence of the interaction children receive during learning. Staff join imaginative activities and use those exchanges to develop language. For parents weighing up the nursery experience, this places adult involvement within children’s play itself. The July 2024 early years findings described a purposeful setting where children engaged with activities and sustained their attention.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at New Whittington Community Primary School. Nursery admission and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again for Reception through the normal application route and by the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for a school place as two distinct decisions, even though the nursery is part of the school.

The school’s address is London Street, New Whittington, Chesterfield, S43 2AQ. Its telephone number is 01246450688. These give families a direct contact and a precise location when considering the nursery alongside the practical demands of their daily journey.