Temple Normanton Primary Academy Nursery

Small-group mornings and shared afternoon play give this nursery its shape. Children belong to Ash Class, the academy’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) class, alongside Reception children. Nursery teaching groups are separate in the morning, while afternoon exploration brings the class together.

The nursery takes children aged three to four, with entry from the term following their third birthday. There are 13 full-time equivalent places, offered through part-time and full-time attendance. That is a capacity measure rather than a headcount of children attending each session.

Morning learning includes phonics, literacy and maths each day, taught in small groups. Afternoons shift towards discovering the wider world through exploration and play. The choice of session therefore matters: morning attendance includes the separate teaching groups, while afternoon attendance centres on shared play.

Stories and singing recur throughout the day. Staff also talk with children about their preferences and use those conversations to shape future learning. Nursery rhyme books bring songs home, with a rhyme sent each week for families to sing together. Friday is the class’s PE day.

Here, the EYFS day combines early language and number work with opportunities to explore. In November 2024, children practised following instructions, repeating important vocabulary and recognising quantities in small groups without counting. They also enjoyed story listening. These are concrete foundations for talking, understanding and early mathematical thinking.

Language during independent play. The inspection on 26 November 2024 identified inconsistent depth and ambition in adult conversations during independent activities, limiting some children’s language development. Adult involvement in play is therefore a material consideration for families whose child needs help with communication.

Two teachers share the teaching week, overlapping on Wednesdays, and a teaching assistant works with the class throughout the week. In November 2024, early-years children picked up routines promptly, including sharing materials and handling resources appropriately. Those everyday habits help children take part in group life.

Parents contribute to the picture of their child’s development. EYFS assessment draws on everyday observation and interaction, alongside contributions from families and other relevant adults. Progress is discussed through parent evenings and key worker conversations, with an end-of-year report. Children needing additional help towards expected learning levels receive ACET Early Intervention Plans.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the academy uses staged assessment and support, involving parents when concerns arise. Teachers remain responsible for each child’s learning, with the SEND coordinator arranging further support when needed. Speech and language therapists and educational psychologists are among the professionals the academy works with where necessary. This gives families a route from an initial concern to more specific support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through Derbyshire County Council’s normal admissions process, using its Common Application Form.

Children already share Ash Class with Reception children and join them for afternoon exploration. That provides everyday familiarity with the mixed early-years class; it does not secure admission to Reception.

Three attendance patterns run Monday to Friday: full days from 8.30am to 3.15pm, mornings from 8.30am to 11.45am, or afternoons from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The distinction between morning teaching and afternoon play helps families choose the pattern that suits their child.

Funding covers 15 hours a week for 38 weeks from the term after a child’s third birthday. Some children qualify for 30 funded hours. Extra hours are chargeable and depend on availability, with bookings requested in blocks of three or six hours; contact the school for current charges.

Nursery applications can be made using the online application form or by calling 01246 850389. Visits can also be arranged through the office. The academy is on Elm Street in Temple Normanton, Chesterfield.