Clifford Bridge Academy Nursery

Porridge-making, dough gym and daily stories give Clifford Bridge Academy’s nursery a practical, playful character. This is the nursery provision within the primary academy on Coombe Park Road in Binley, Coventry. A nursery teacher and an EYFS phase leader form part of the school’s teaching structure, placing the provision within its wider early years team.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical development and emotional development with early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Here, the school calls its approach the 5 Ms. For parents, that means learning through conversation, making marks, investigating numbers, exploring surroundings and developing movement, rather than treating these as separate classroom subjects.

Spring learning shows how that works. Daily stories and songs sit alongside small-group conversations, while children practise hearing the first sounds in words and copy their names for self-registration. Number rhymes, building blocks and shape puzzles make maths something children can handle and test. Containers of different sizes introduce comparisons through filling and talking about size.

Physical activity includes dough gym and obstacle courses. Making porridge connects cooking with questions about how ingredients change when heated; investigating ice introduces freezing and melting. These are concrete starting points for talking, experimenting and developing control of hands and bodies. Early years learning also uses role-play resources, giving children material for imaginative play.

At the January 2025 inspection, children across the early years were developing independence through quickly established routines and exploring learning inside and outdoors. They also learned to combine sounds to read short words. These findings concern the school’s early years as a whole, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Independence is taught through ordinary care routines. Spring activities include handwashing, toileting and changing into clean clothes, alongside turn-taking games. Children also learn ways to manage feelings, including breathing exercises and sensory toys. Emotional development has practical tools attached to it.

Tapestry gives parents an online record of early years activities and development, with opportunities to add comments and their own photos or other media. The school also uses the Thrive Approach across its provision to guide responses to children’s emotional and social needs. Families can contact the SENDCo through the office for help understanding Coventry’s SEND Local Offer and routes to support.

Lunch for nursery is at 11:30. Catering Academy supplies the school’s meals, with hot meals, a packed lunch option and regular Halal choices. Parents arrange the packed lunch option through the office and should keep the school informed about allergies or changes to dietary needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer admissions priority. Families must make a separate application through Coventry City Council in the normal admissions round and meet the normal deadline. For the September 2027 intake, oversubscription criteria apply if there are more requests than places; nursery attendance is not one of those criteria. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 02476 451720 or email admin@cliffordbridgeacademy.org. Families considering joining can telephone to arrange a look around the school. This provides a direct way to discuss the nursery with staff before deciding whether to apply.