Ravensdale Primary School Nursery Review

Ducklings, growing seeds and dough disco give Ravensdale's nursery learning a practical character. Its summer 2026 plan brought living things, movement and early writing together, giving children concrete activities through which to explore ideas.

For children aged three and four, this is Ravensdale Primary School's own nursery on Ravensdale Road in Coventry. Goslings and Ducklings are its nursery groups. There are 24 full-time places, plus 14 morning-only and 14 afternoon-only places, so families can choose between a shorter session and full-time attendance.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework. In the summer 2026 nursery plan, that meant connecting language, counting, physical development and learning about the world with practical tasks. Children were to plant and tend seeds, observe ducklings hatching and growing, and explore insects. Recycling and collecting litter added everyday ways to care for their surroundings.

Early literacy combined new stories and poems with conversation and drawing. The plan introduced Read Write Inc Set 1 sounds: hearing initial sounds, saying them and beginning to blend short words. Name-writing challenges and pre-writing shapes linked spoken language with marks on paper. For mathematics, five-frames and ten-frames supported counting and matching quantities to numerals, alongside comparisons of more and less.

Movement had its own progression. Dough disco and PE featured in the first half of the summer term; BEAM assessments and ball activities followed in the second, with attention to coordination. Junk modelling introduced joining and cutting. These were tasks involving hands and bodies as well as listening. Thursday is the nursery's PE day, when children attend wearing their PE clothes.

A nursery class teacher works with a supporting team across the week, with additional nursery support at lunchtime. Tapestry connects learning with home: parents are asked to check it each week and can contribute activities from family life. My Child at School carries event reminders and other communications, giving families a separate channel for practical information.

The summer 2026 plan included Zones of Regulation to help children discuss feelings, alongside friendship, hygiene and dressing practice. Putting on shoes and fastening coats made independence part of the learning.

Support for additional needs has a defined route. The school's SEND policy directs parents first to the class teacher, who can involve the SENCo. Plans use an assess, plan, do and review cycle with parental involvement. School facilities include the Calm Zone sensory room and a Hygiene Suite with changing equipment, a hoist and shower. These provide concrete resources for sensory and personal care needs, with support planned around the individual child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Coventry City Council's normal admissions route. For September 2027 entry, the online application deadline is 15 January 2027.

The school's 2025/26 admission arrangements did not include nursery attendance among their priority criteria and explicitly required nursery families to apply again. Treat the nursery choice and Reception application as separate decisions.

For children with SEND, transition support can include extra induction visits and photo-based transition books, depending on their needs. Information sharing is agreed with parents. This supports familiarity with the next setting; it does not alter admission entitlement.

Morning nursery runs from 9am to noon; afternoon nursery runs from noon to 3pm. The school describes 15 funded hours each week during term time for the academic year before school, with children required to be three by 31 August for that school year. Ravensdale accepts 30-hour funding codes. A full-time place carries a charge when the child does not qualify for that code; contact the school for current charges.

For families with another child at the school, afternoon Raven Club can bridge the gap from 3pm to 3.25pm. To join the nursery waiting list, telephone the office on 02476444966. General enquiries can also go to office@ravensdale.coventry.sch.uk.

PE clothing consists of a plain white T-shirt, plain blue shorts or jogging bottoms and trainers or pumps. Earrings should be removed for PE. Travel arrangements. School Street restrictions operate throughout the year on weekdays, from 8.15am to 9.15am and 3pm to 4pm. These overlap nursery drop-off and afternoon collection, so plan the journey around them.