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Nursery at Charter Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Daily stories and a purpose-built outdoor learning area give Charter Academy’s nursery its character. Provision spans ages two to four: Holly and Hazel cater for two- to three-year-olds, while Hawthorn serves three- to four-year-olds. These are nursery classes within the primary school on Mitchell Avenue, Coventry.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection.
Learning moves between indoor activities and the purpose-built outdoor learning area. Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the framework for their early learning, with play and practical experiences forming part of the school’s approach. The physical space gives outdoor learning a place in the nursery day.
Stories, poems and rhymes introduce children to language, and an adult reads to nursery children daily. Read Write Inc begins in Nursery, alongside opportunities to make marks through exploration and exploratory activities. This brings listening, early reading and the beginnings of writing into the same day.
Number work includes counting, using numbers and tackling simple subtraction and addition. White Rose Maths and the NCETM’s Mastering Number Programme inform early years teaching. Maths resources are distributed through classroom and outdoor spaces, giving children opportunities to encounter numbers beyond an adult-led activity.
Forest School adds another setting for exploration. Charter has its own Forest School Area and a trained Forest School Leader; each class has opportunities to participate during the year. The school describes this approach as supporting play, exploration and taking risks with adult support.
Exceptional language support stood out in early years at the inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. Children were also learning to manage emotions. Their enjoyment of shared play and work, growing friendships and positive connections with staff gave the social findings substance. For a parent weighing the social side of nursery, these findings matter as much as the learning programmes.
Staff roles include a nursery manager and early years teaching assistants. Wider family support can involve individual work, small groups or communication with families, addressing issues including anxiety and friendships. The pastoral team can also direct families towards specialist services.
Lunch needs an active choice from parents: nursery attendance does not automatically include it. Families can send food from home or order a school meal through School Grid. Dolce Catering Service supplies school meals, and parents can discuss dietary requirements with the Catering Manager through the school office. That gives families a route for planning meals around their child’s needs. School meals include a main course with potato and vegetables, followed by pudding or fresh fruit and a drink. Salad and bread are available daily from the salad bar, adding further choices at lunchtime.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions route, using Coventry City Council’s website for a September start. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, and submit the Reception application by the normal deadline.
For Holly and Hazel, mornings run from 8:30am to 11:30am and afternoons from 12:20pm to 3:20pm. A full-day option runs from 8:30am to 2:30pm, with a charged extension to 3:20pm. The distinction matters when matching nursery attendance to working hours.
Hawthorn’s morning runs from 8:50am to 11:50am. Its children can attend an afternoon in Hazel Classroom: families claiming 30 funded childcare hours can combine morning and afternoon, while additional afternoon hours can also be purchased. Afternoon collection can be at 2:30pm, with an additional charge for staying until 3:20pm.
For Holly and Hazel families receiving 15 universal hours, a further 15 hours can be purchased. Contact the school for current charges. Nursery enquiries can go to chp-admin@castlephoenixtrust.org.uk or 02476 466391.
Holly and Hazel cater for children aged two to three, and Hawthorn caters for children aged three to four.
Holly and Hazel have an 8:30am to 2:30pm full-day option, with a charged extension to 3:20pm. Hawthorn children can combine their morning with an afternoon in Hazel Classroom through funded or paid arrangements.
Nursery learning includes a purpose-built outdoor learning area. Every class also has opportunities to use the school’s Forest School Area during the year.
No. Families choose either a packed lunch from home or a school meal ordered through School Grid.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Coventry City Council’s school admissions route.
