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Nursery at Spire Nursery and Infant 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Two outdoor areas, a school farm and woodland learning give Spire’s nursery a character that extends beyond the classroom. This is the nursery provision within Spire Nursery and Infant School on Derby Road in Chesterfield, with provision for two-year-olds and for children aged three and four. Bears is the named two-year-old nursery; Bees has its own nursery learning plan.
The emphasis is on children following their interests, with adults bringing them together for group learning. For families, that means a combination of exploration and shared activities rather than a session built entirely around adult instruction.
Child-led play shapes the Busy Bees session, indoors and outdoors. Group times introduce skills and knowledge alongside that exploration. The nursery has two outdoor areas, giving outdoor learning a physical place in the day. Friday is Busy Bees’ library day, with books brought back in children’s book bags for the exchange.
The Early Years Foundation Stage approach uses Development Matters to plan activities matched to children’s development. In plain parent language, the intention is to choose learning that fits a child’s stage. Early sound work begins in Nursery through Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised. Ofsted’s July 2023 inspection found that nursery children enjoyed songs and stories, while adults demonstrated sounds carefully. These are concrete foundations for listening and early reading.
Forest School adds a different rhythm. The Bears class page describes weekly access and outdoor play in all weather. Within the school grounds, the woodland site includes shrubs, trees, wildflower planting and the Silver Birch Forest schools fire circle. Sessions combine a briefing, games, activities, free play and a shared snack, followed by reflection. Repeated routines give children opportunities to revisit activities and talk about managing risks.
The Nursery Enrichment Passport also includes Hunloke Gardens, Chesterfield Library and visits to the school farm. Bear’s Sensory Room is another named space children visit. Together, these experiences connect nursery learning with outdoor places, books and the surrounding community.
Milk and fruit are offered at snack time on the Bears class page. Children bring a labelled water bottle and can use it throughout the session. A suitable coat and footwear are daily essentials for the outdoor routine.
In July 2023, early-years care supported children in doing things independently and working together, and children picked up routines and expectations quickly. The Nursery Enrichment Passport includes Circle Time, plus home sharing through Dojo and Tapestry, giving families ways to connect home experiences with nursery learning.
For children with special educational needs or disabilities, the school describes individual consideration of needs and removing obstacles to learning. The Derbyshire Local Offer and Derbyshireiass are named routes to advice. A children and families support worker also forms part of the school’s safeguarding team.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Derbyshire County Council is the school’s admissions authority, and school-place applications go through www.derbyshire.gov.uk. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
Nursery applications go through the school office on 01246 234727. The school is on Derby Road, Chesterfield, S40 2EU, and can also be contacted at info@spire-inf.derbyshire.sch.uk.
The three-year-old nursery offers 15 or 30 funded hours. The funded hours themselves carry no chargeable extras; children using 30 funded hours have a separate school-lunch charge. Refer to the school for current charges. This distinction matters when considering the longer funded pattern.
There is provision for two-year-olds and a nursery for children aged three and four.
Busy Bees has two outdoor areas. The Bears class page describes weekly Forest School access and outdoor play whatever the weather. The Nursery Enrichment Passport includes school-farm visits and Hunloke Gardens.
The Bears class page describes milk and fruit. Children also bring a named water bottle that they can access during the session.
The three-year-old nursery offers 15 and 30 funded hours. There are no chargeable extras for the funded hours themselves, but a school-lunch charge applies to children accessing 30 funded hours.
No. Reception requires a separate application through the normal school admissions process. School-place applications are made through Derbyshire County Council at www.derbyshire.gov.uk.
