Harrington Nursery School: play, language and family support

Stories, small-group learning and an enclosed garden give Harrington’s nursery day its shape. This local authority maintained nursery school on Harrington Street in Derby provides nursery education in its own right. Its provision welcomes children aged two to four, with an admission number equivalent to 80 places of 15 hours each.

Family support extends beyond the classroom. An onsite food pantry and clothes bank offer practical help, while partnerships with Derby Adult Learning Services and Derby County Community Trust connect families with learning and advice. That makes the nursery a point of support for parents as well as children.

Play provides the starting point. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven connected areas: communication, physical development and emotional and social learning, alongside mathematics, literacy, creative expression and understanding the world. Harrington gives the first three extra attention during a child’s first term, helping establish the foundations for joining in and learning with others.

Core stories and rhymes build familiarity with language, while staff select vocabulary using their assessments of children. Resources for children’s play change with their interests, stories and significant events. There is structure too: daily family groups include stories, movement activities and wellbeing work. Time Together brings children into smaller groups for learning tailored to their interests and needs.

Outside, the enclosed garden provides space for learning through play. Sensory space, soft play equipment and a nest swing broaden the ways children can participate. Parents contribute information about children’s hobbies, so activities can connect with interests beyond nursery.

Healthy habits also have a place in the session. Through the Derby City Smiles pilot, children practise toothbrushing during each session and receive brushes and toothpaste for home. It is a concrete link between learning at nursery and everyday care.

Key-worker responsibilities sit with teaching staff and higher level teaching assistants, including staff working with two-year-olds. Home and school visits form part of starting and leaving the setting; children needing more preparation can have additional visits and meetings. The September 2026 reopening arrangements also allowed parents to remain while their child settled, with individual starting arrangements sent through Class Dojo.

Communication continues through Class Dojo newsletters, with paper versions on request and translations into Romanian, Urdu and Punjabi. Termly assessments using the Leuven Wellbeing Scales and PITA (Point in Time Assessment) are shared with parents, together with guidance for supporting learning at home.

Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) includes Wellcomm, Attention Autism and Early Talk Boost. Staff use Makaton and hold first-aid qualifications. A single-storey site, sloping garden paths and private accessible changing facilities support personal care and access. Gluten-free, vegetarian and religious or cultural dietary needs are accommodated. Families can also seek guidance on eating, toileting and sleep.

At the May 2023 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective and described prompt responses to concerns. Children learning English received skilled language support, and children with SEND had reading or mathematics groups suited to their development.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline; choosing Harrington should be a decision about nursery education rather than a promise of a primary-school place.

Preparation for leaving is a separate matter. Home and school visits support transitions, with extra meetings and professional information-sharing for children who need them. These arrangements help families prepare for a change of setting.

Sessions run during school terms, Monday to Friday. The universal 15-hour pattern is mornings, 8:30am to 11:30am, or afternoons, 12:45pm to 3:45pm. The extended entitlement uses four full days, Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 3:30pm, followed by Friday morning from 8:30am to 11:30am. Requests for different arrangements are considered where possible.

Universal funding starts in the term after a child’s third birthday. Harrington also accepts eligible two-year-olds under Flying start and eligible working families using the 30-hour entitlement for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Registration involves contacting the nursery and completing a waiting-list form. Visits can be arranged through admin@harrington.derby.sch.uk or 01332 769821.

Parking. There is no parent car park, although street parking is available. Allow for this when planning collection. Spare clothes are requested to support outdoor activities.