Cherry Tree Hill Primary School Nursery

Daily outdoor exploration and a day that combines children's choices with adult guidance give Cherry Tree Hill's nursery its character. A large outdoor area provides space for active play and investigating nature, while indoor learning connects with outdoor activity throughout the day. This is the school's Foundation Stage 1 provision, part of its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Families can choose morning, afternoon or full-day patterns, including term-time full-time places. That makes the nursery relevant to parents seeking shorter sessions as well as those wanting a longer school-day arrangement.

Play carries much of the learning. The EYFS framework shapes the curriculum, with children exploring ideas, persisting with activities and working out how to approach something new. Sessions balance activities chosen by children with those directed by adults. Children select resources for their own interests; staff demonstrate, ask questions and introduce vocabulary to extend what happens next. Choice comes with guidance.

Communication and language receive deliberate attention. New words are introduced through planned learning opportunities, so conversation is part of teaching rather than simply something that happens alongside it. Free movement between indoor and outdoor learning gives children different places to investigate and practise their developing skills. The large outdoor area also supports daily encounters with nature and physical activity.

Building a pirate ship together demonstrated children's cooperation in Ofsted's early-years findings from July 2023. Alongside this shared play, teaching emphasised communication and language and gave children opportunities to explore early literacy and mathematics. The curriculum prepared children for the next stage of learning. These findings concern the school's early years as a whole.

For children staying across lunchtime, the choice is a school dinner or a packed lunch. Hot food is cooked on site, and the menu changes each term. Families can therefore choose between the school's meal and food brought from home; contact the school for current meal charges.

Tapestry records EYFS learning through observations, photographs and video, creating a record of children's experiences and development. Across the school, assessment information is shared regularly with parents to help them support learning at home.

Additional needs are addressed through a staged cycle of assessment, planning, support and review, involving families and teaching staff. The school works with Speech and Language Therapists and the STEPs Team, whose remit includes vision, hearing and autism support. Its SENCO holds the National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination. For families managing additional needs, this provides a named coordination role and routes to specialist involvement. Staff receive continuing training on autism, sensory processing and attachment, including adapting teaching and classroom provision. Parents contribute information about their child's strengths and difficulties to the assessment process, giving families a practical part in shaping the support.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through Derby City Council's normal admissions process. Online, telephone and paper routes are offered. For the September 2026 intake, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that cycle is past.

Support for children with SEND includes visual transition booklets, extra visits and activities, and detailed staff handovers. These measures help children prepare for change. They are separate from the allocation of a Reception place.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45, with afternoons from 12:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday. Options include five mornings, five afternoons, or mixed patterns combining full days with a Wednesday half-day. A Monday-to-Friday full-day pattern runs from 08:45 to 15:30.

Session planning. Full-week day attendance is offered alongside an arrangement describing all-day attendance twice a week. Confirm the pattern being booked before organising work and collection around it.

Parents can submit a Nursery Interest Form or use the visit booking form. Funding enquiries are directed to Childcare Choices for eligibility and application information. Gate Two, on Sunny Grove, is supervised at lunchtime for nursery collection and drop-off.