Castleward Spencer Academy Nursery Review

A pretend magic wand, children becoming lions and a game of freezing capture the character of Castleward Spencer Academy’s nursery: adults use play to build children’s language, then children try it for themselves. Communication has a clear purpose here. It helps children join in with one another as well as express their ideas.

The nursery class forms part of the primary school on Canal Street in central Derby. At the Ofsted inspection on 9 and 10 July 2024, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Language and social development give the nursery day its clearest focus. In July 2024, adults demonstrated both speech and play, and children copied their actions before using them with other children. The imaginary wand and lion game show how this works: an adult’s example becomes something children can share. Learning to communicate is woven into play.

Early reading begins in nursery too. In July 2024, children were developing the foundations needed to begin learning to read, while children across early years made substantial progress from their individual starting points. For parents, the useful connection is between those early foundations and the emphasis on language: children have opportunities to practise communicating before the next stage of learning.

Across the school, Reading, Knowledge and Communication are the curriculum drivers. The school aims to help children explain their thoughts and feelings, understand new vocabulary and listen to others. Its GROW values also emphasise curiosity, independence, confidence and kindness in working together. These aims give context to the nursery’s observed emphasis on shared play and adult examples.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities sits within the school’s wider provision. Teachers and support staff identify individual developmental needs; where help beyond classroom support is needed, the school can coordinate with the local authority to seek specialist input. This gives families a route from everyday classroom observations to additional support.

Castleward also participates in Operation Encompass. Following police notification of a domestic abuse incident, a designated adult can coordinate support, and someone the child trusts can be available to help. The school describes this support as often discreet, with staff watching carefully and helping the child have a calm day. Safeguarding concerns can be sent to safeguarding@castlewardspencer.org.uk.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority; Derby residents use Derby City Council. The application must meet the closing date in the council’s coordinated admissions scheme.

The Reception arrangements presented for the 2025–2026 cycle give no priority for nursery attendance. Their criteria instead address care status, residence and siblings, with distance used to resolve oversubscription within a criterion. Familiarity with the school should therefore be kept separate from the question of securing a place.

The school office handles general enquiries at info@castlewardspencer.org.uk, and the telephone number is 01332 949471. The address is Canal Street, Derby, DE1 2RJ. These are the direct contact details for families enquiring about the nursery.