Firs Primary School Nursery Review

A familiar adult before the first session: nursery staff at Firs Primary School make home visits wherever possible, giving children an introduction to the people who will care for them. That personal start is followed by shorter settling sessions with a parent or carer present. Familiarity comes first.

Known as Foundation Stage 1, the nursery sits within the primary school on Raven Street in Derby. Children ordinarily start in the term after their third birthday. A limited number of places also cater for two-year-olds with a Derby City Council Flying Start code or a government Working Parents Code.

Language learning shapes the early years approach. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), adults model spoken English and children learn through immersion in the language. For a child beginning to learn English, this makes everyday exchanges part of learning, rather than restricting language practice to a separate activity.

Visual support makes routines easier to understand. All classes use picture timetables, giving children a way to follow the sequence of the day. Across the school, teaching strategies include practising language aloud and using images; named tools include Communication in Print and Colourful Semantics. These connect spoken language with visual prompts, helping children understand and express ideas.

In June 2022, Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good. Learning in early years gave children a positive start and prepared them for subsequent learning. This judgement covers the early years provision within the school.

Settling begins with getting to know the child. Where a home visit takes place, staff can learn about individual needs as well as introduce themselves. Short initial sessions then allow children to become accustomed to nursery while their parent or carer stays alongside them.

For concerns about development or learning, the class teacher is the first contact, followed by the special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs). The school's support process moves through assessment, planning, delivery and review, with parents involved in decisions. Children receiving SEND support or holding an education, health and care plan receive a progress report each term, giving families a regular point to discuss adjustments.

Accessibility has concrete features: the school occupies a single-level site, with accessible toilets, a shower area and a changing facility. Communication with families includes Class Dojo messages that parents can translate and telephone calls supported by New Communities Team translators. These provide practical ways for families to stay involved across language differences.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Derby City Council's normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Nursery families automatically receive an application pack when that process begins; receiving the pack is not an offer of a place.

Preparation for a new class is a separate matter. Class swap days give children an opportunity to meet their next teacher before changing classes. For children with SEND, relevant information is passed to their new teachers so that support needs travel with them.

The booking patterns are five mornings, five afternoons or two and a half days. The latter runs either on Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning, or Wednesday afternoon followed by Thursday and Friday. That distinction matters when arranging a regular working week.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office, and school visits can be arranged by appointment. Contact the office on 01332 346230 or email admin@firsprimary.derby.sch.uk. The address is Raven Street, Derby, DE22 3WA.