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Nursery at Ashbrook Infant 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Conversation, curiosity and learning through play give Acorns Nursery its character. This is Ashbrook Infant School’s provision for three and four-year-olds in Borrowash, on Victoria Avenue. Children begin their education within the infant school, with a curriculum that responds to their interests rather than starting solely from a planned activity.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its inspection on 4 and 5 February 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Learning begins with what interests the child. The early years approach uses planning in the moment: staff respond to children’s needs and interests as they play. Ashbrook Essentials sets out the school’s approach across seven areas of early years learning. For parents, the practical emphasis is on developing skills through play and exploration, with children’s interests helping to shape the learning.
Language has a clear place in that experience. In February 2025, adults demonstrated how to form sentences and encouraged children to talk. Books served two purposes: children used them to discover information and participated in recurring story language. This gives conversation a purpose beyond answering an adult’s question, while stories offer opportunities to practise familiar words.
Activities also encouraged children to work things out, become more independent and ask questions about their surroundings. The early years atmosphere was settled and focused. Physical development adds another strand: activities from early years onwards are planned to develop movement control and coordination, alongside more energetic exercise.
A toothbrush and toothpaste make health education tangible. Nursery children receive their own and learn how to clean their teeth. This turns a care routine into something children can practise themselves, linking everyday health with growing independence.
For families concerned about additional needs, there is a direct route to support. Parents of children already attending should speak first with the class teacher, who can involve the special educational needs and disability coordinator (SENDCo). Before joining, families can telephone to arrange a SENDCo appointment. That creates an opportunity to discuss developmental, behavioural, physical or sensory concerns before attendance begins.
The safeguarding team includes the early years lead as a deputy designated safeguarding lead. This places an early years role within the school’s arrangements for handling child protection concerns.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. The admissions page directs Derbyshire residents and Derby City residents to their respective school-place application routes.
The listed oversubscription criteria give priority to children in the school’s normal area, then children outside that area with a sibling attending, followed by other applicants. Distance decides between applicants within the latter two groups when necessary. Nursery attendance is not one of those criteria, so choosing Acorns should be a decision about the nursery experience rather than an expectation of Reception priority.
The Nursery Enquiry Form is the direct starting point for an Acorns enquiry. It collects the child’s date of birth and the parent or carer’s contact details so the school can respond about availability.
Families can also contact the school on 01332 662695 or email info@ashbrook-inf.derbyshire.sch.uk. The nursery is at Ashbrook Infant School, Victoria Avenue, Borrowash, DE72 3HF.
The nursery offers places to three and four-year-olds.
Early years provision was graded Good at the school’s Ofsted inspection on 4 and 5 February 2025. This is a school early years judgement, not a separate nursery rating.
The early years approach uses planning in the moment, responding to children’s interests and needs through play. Language, books, problem-solving and independence feature in the February 2025 early years findings.
No. Nursery attendance is absent from the listed oversubscription criteria and does not guarantee a place. Families must apply separately through the normal school admissions route.
Use the Nursery Enquiry Form for an enquiry. Families whose child has not yet joined can telephone the school to arrange an appointment with the SENDCo.
