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Nursery at Priors Hall 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Stories, rhyme and conversation give Priors Hall’s nursery its character. Children share poems, practise listening and explore sounds through play, with adults helping them put their ideas into words. This is the school’s own nursery on Gretton Road in Corby, with 60 full time equivalent places. Children can start from their third birthday, subject to space being available.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 22 and 23 October 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum covers seven areas of development, with opportunities to explore books and practise speaking, listening and expressing ideas. Learning combines activities led by adults with choices children make themselves. For parents, that means early literacy develops through conversation and play as well as organised teaching.
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised shapes the nursery’s foundations for phonics. Stories and poems sit alongside action rhymes, listening activities and oral blending, where children hear sounds joined into words. The nursery teacher and staff team have training in the programme’s progression. The emphasis here is on listening and language before formal reading.
Within the early years learning environment, the Story Spot supports exploring books and retelling stories. Role-play and small-world areas give children ways to use storytelling in their play, with reading experiences extending indoors and outdoors. Nursery writing begins with making marks and giving those marks meaning, rather than expecting finished sentences.
In October 2024, adult conversations helped children develop their understanding and communication. Consistent routines supported sustained attention, while adults used imaginative play to help children cooperate, share and understand safety. These are practical foundations for taking part in a group.
Nursery term dates follow school dates, excluding allocated home visiting days at the start of September. Keyworkers are part of the nursery’s daily organisation, with a break between the morning and afternoon sessions.
Lunch has its own booking arrangement. Children attending the optional Nursery Lunch Club can bring food from home or have a hot meal for an additional charge. Families book the club and school meals through My Child at School, keeping care and meal choices together in one app.
For concerns about special educational needs or disabilities, parents first speak to their child’s class teacher, who can involve the SENDCo. The school’s support arrangements include Pupil Support Plans, reviewed with families at least three times a year. That gives parents regular opportunities to discuss targets and the support their child receives.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through their home local authority; North Northamptonshire residents use the council’s school admissions route.
For the 2026–27 admission cycle, nursery attendance confers no priority. The criteria cover care status, qualifying staff children, siblings and catchment residence before other applicants. The on-time application deadline for that cycle was midnight on 15 January. Treat the Reception application as a separate decision, even if your child already attends nursery.
Children with SEND may have personalised transition support, including classroom visits, books about the change and time with new adults. This helps prepare a child for change; it does not alter admission entitlement.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Funding covers 38 weeks, following school terms. The 15-hour pattern uses five mornings or five afternoons; eligible families using 30 hours attend both sessions across five days.
The lunchtime gap. Nursery sessions stop between 11:45am and 12:30pm. Lunch Club is separately charged, subject to availability and excluded from government funding. Children attending both sessions who do not use it must be collected and brought back. This matters when planning work and collection arrangements.
Paid sessions from a child’s third birthday depend on availability. Contact the school office on 01536 216090 for nursery enquiries and current charges. School tours can be arranged by telephone appointment.
Children can attend from their third birthday, subject to availability. Funded early education begins in the term after their third birthday.
The 15-hour pattern is five mornings or five afternoons. Eligible families using 30 hours attend ten sessions across Monday to Friday, with lunch arranged separately.
Yes, through the optional Nursery Lunch Club from 11:45am to 12:30pm, subject to availability. It carries a separate charge and cannot be included in government funding. Children can bring a packed lunch or book a hot meal for an additional charge.
No. A separate local authority application is required. Nursery attendance does not confer priority under the 2026–27 admission arrangements.
Speak to your child’s class teacher first. They can involve the SENDCo or inclusion team, with support plans and reviews involving parents.
