Emmanuel School Nursery Review

Free play, short teaching activities and a Christian view of childhood shape Emmanuel’s nursery. Children aged three and four attend the Early Years Unit at Emmanuel School in Derby, where compassion and faith form part of everyday learning. This is an independent school nursery with a clear religious identity, so its approach matters as much as its session pattern when deciding whether it suits your family.

Nursery sits alongside Reception within the unit. At the February 2024 ISI inspection, the combined early years class contained 24 children: that was the total across both age groups, rather than a nursery capacity figure.

Play takes up a substantial part of each session. Adults add brief activities involving songs, stories, early number work and letters, giving children opportunities to explore for themselves alongside focused teaching. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: learning includes literacy and mathematics, discovering the world and expressing ideas through art and design. Activities are adapted for children’s ages and abilities.

Christian ideas run through these experiences. Adults encourage children to act compassionately, connecting learning with how they treat people in the nursery and beyond. Families choosing Emmanuel are choosing that perspective throughout the day.

In February 2024, early years children developed steadily from their individual starting points. Activities matched their interests while building skills with pencils, scissors and letter shapes. Whiteboards provided a surface for practising letters; nursery children also demonstrated accurate number sorting and splitting. These are concrete steps towards writing and understanding quantities.

The outdoor play area and garden extend the learning space. During February 2024, early years children regularly used both, with gardening and construction developing coordination and cooperative play. Children shared equipment, waited for turns and sought help when needed. Outdoor activity served learning as well as movement.

The staffing structure includes a Head of Early Years who also holds the SENDCo role, with a degree qualification listed. Teachers and teaching assistants work within the unit. Initial assessments help staff plan learning and identify possible special educational needs; ongoing observations shape each child’s next steps.

In February 2024, early years staff understood children’s individual strengths and difficulties, helping them manage feelings and behaviour. Teaching assistants supported children with SEND to participate alongside their peers. One nursery child learning English received individual help with counters and number lines, connecting language support with practical mathematics. A member of the early years team held paediatric first aid training.

Lunch comes from home. Children bring packed lunches, and the school operates a nut-free policy, so families need to plan food accordingly. Parents can arrange conversations with teachers about progress outside formal consultations.

Safeguarding training. During February 2024, the school’s safeguarding leaders needed updated training; this was completed before the inspection ended. The recommended action was closer monitoring of training, making this a relevant concern for families assessing care arrangements.

Attending Emmanuel’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Confirm with the school how existing nursery families apply for Reception. Its published general admissions process uses an application form addressed to the headteacher, with September applications due by the end of February in the entry year. Later applications enter a waiting list and depend on vacancies.

Transition support is a separate matter from admission. A Nursery-Reception Transition Meeting was scheduled for 6 July 2023, giving families a specific occasion focused on the move between stages.

Morning sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoon sessions run from noon to 3pm. Full-day nursery opening is 9am to 3pm, and the Early Years Unit operates across five full days. These timings give families a choice between shorter sessions and a school-length day.

Universal funding covers 15 hours from the term after a child turns three; eligible families can receive 30 hours. The funding pattern is a 38-week year. Additional sessions carry a charge and are paid for in advance; contact the school for current charges.

Nursery uniform combines a white polo shirt with navy bottoms and a navy jumper, plus white socks and black shoes rather than boots. Enquiries go to office@emmanuel.derby.sch.uk or 01332 340 505. Open-day registration uses an online booking page.