Hackwood Primary Academy Nursery Review

A mud kitchen, a mini shop and a performance stage give Squirrels, Hackwood Primary Academy’s nursery class, plenty of starting points for play. This is the school’s own nursery, with a nursery teacher and entry from the term following a child’s third birthday. Its character is practical: children can build, pretend, investigate and get messy.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 5 and 6 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Movement between indoors and outdoors shapes much of the day. Children can choose between the two for most of their time here, giving them room to follow an interest rather than keeping all learning at a table. Inside, reading nooks sit alongside small-world equipment and blocks. A home corner and mini shop support pretend play, while playdough, drawing and painting offer ways to experiment with materials.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas of development. In nursery, the emphasis is on communication, physical development, and children’s personal, social and emotional skills. Literacy, mathematics, expressive arts and understanding the world build on those foundations. Adults demonstrate skills, extend children’s language and encourage them to attempt something new. Learning is organised around exploration, active involvement and thinking through ideas.

Themes include Nursery Rhymes, Traditional tales and Minibeasts. Outside, children have a bug hotel, sand and water play, climbing and balance equipment, and resources for making dens. The school field supports activities in the style of forest school, such as collecting sticks for crafts or making bird feeders. These are possibilities rather than a fixed daily timetable. Children stay within the school grounds and do not go into the woodland.

Kindness has a daily reminder: a song reinforces the nursery’s expectations for gentle hands, feet and voices. In March 2024, clear early years routines and high expectations supported exemplary behaviour, and children were eager to learn. Predictable expectations give play a shared set of boundaries.

Toilet training is a partnership with parents, with independence as the aim. Children who are still training should have three pull-up nappies, wipes and a nappy bag in their bag. A complete spare outfit, including socks, is also part of the kit. That makes messy play and changes of clothing part of the practical preparation.

Morning snacks include milk and fruit; an afternoon snack is provided too. Hot meals, where offered, carry a charge and require advance booking and payment through Arbor. Any snack contribution is voluntary where applicable. For additional needs, the school’s SEND coordinator supports teachers and teaching assistants with provision, and families can contact send@hackwood.theharmonytrust.org.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Hackwood. Families must make a separate Reception application through Derby City Council using the normal admissions process and deadline. Treat the nursery choice and the later school application as two decisions: joining Squirrels does not secure the next place.

The 15-hour pattern consists of five mornings, 8:40am to 11:40am, or five afternoons, 12:10pm to 3:10pm. Places funded for 30 hours follow Monday to Friday, 8:40am to 3:10pm, and require a valid funding code. Funding operates during term time, starting in the term after the third birthday. Eligible working families can access up to 30 funded hours; parents must keep their code reconfirmed, and unconfirmed eligibility prevents the academy from holding a place.

Nursery clothing is chosen for movement and toileting: a purple jumper, white top, grey or black joggers and black trainers. The nursery supplies wellies. Bring a water bottle containing only water and clothing suited to the weather.

Applications go directly to the academy office. Contact info@hackwood.theharmonytrust.org or 01332 985466, and refer to the school for current charges.

Younger entry is a proposal. A proposed extension would add 20 full-time places for two-year-olds from 1 September 2027, conditional on a successful School Based Nurseries Grant application. Entry would be from the term after a child’s second birthday for families eligible for two-year-old funding. Families should distinguish that proposal from the current entry age.