Keresley Newland Primary Academy Nursery

Pride Rock gives two-year-olds their own starting point at Keresley Newland, with conversation, stories and play shaping its approach. The class opened in September 2025. The Reef serves three-year-olds, placing the nursery provision within a school whose early years learning team is called Storyland.

Language is the connecting thread. The school aims to build children’s enjoyment of stories and their vocabulary, while Pride Rock focuses on relationships and confidence in communicating. For parents, that gives the provision a clear emphasis: learning to express an idea and relate to other people sits alongside exploring and playing.

Children’s interests help shape activities in Pride Rock. Its planning uses Development Matters within the Early Years Foundation Stage, supporting development across the areas of learning. In practical terms, the approach combines children’s own interests with guidance from the Early Years Team, rather than treating play and adult support as separate parts of learning.

Stories, playful activity and exchanges with adults are used to develop vocabulary. Pride Rock aims to help children become more independent and curious, with encouragement to explore and express themselves. Communication is a purpose of the activities, not simply something that happens around them.

At the May 2023 Ofsted inspection, early years provision was graded Good. Children in early years had phonics teaching each day alongside a daily story session, helping them broaden their vocabulary and begin reading. Staff also explained the meanings of important words across early years learning. These findings concern the early years provision at that date; Pride Rock opened later, in September 2025.

Pride Rock describes its intended atmosphere as calm and caring, with relationships forming an important part of its approach. The focus on communication gives children ways to express themselves as they begin developing independence.

Staffing distinguishes teachers for the two-year-old and three-year-old groups, alongside nursery support staff. The wider school also has a SENDCO team and a Children and Families Lead, giving parents identifiable roles for discussions about additional needs or family support.

In May 2023, staff planned children’s introduction to school from the beginning of early years. Systems helped identify children’s needs, including special educational needs and disabilities. That makes early discussion of a child’s needs relevant to the start of their school experience.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route. Warwickshire County Council provides the application route at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/primaryplace.

For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That deadline has passed. Treat the nursery choice and the later Reception application as separate decisions, rather than assuming that joining Pride Rock or The Reef reserves a school place.

Funded early education is offered for three- and four-year-olds, including 30 hours where eligibility requirements are met. The eligibility condition matters when considering how nursery attendance will fit family routines.

Nursery applications use a Nursery Application Form. For enquiries or to arrange a school visit, contact office@knpa.warwickshire.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged at a time that suits parents and their children, providing a direct way to discuss the provision before applying.