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Nursery at Highfields Spencer Academy
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Adventure Island, Message Centre and a forest school area give Ducklings, the nursery at Highfields Spencer Academy, a distinctive play-led identity. Children can make marks, build with loose parts and explore outside, with adults extending learning through their interests. Play has a clear purpose here.
The nursery belongs to the academy in Littleover, on Tutbury Avenue. Its team includes a Nursery and EYFS Lead and a nursery teaching assistant. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 3 and 4 June 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Children's interests shape the nursery's planning. Adults respond through planned interactions, introducing skills and developing play as it unfolds. There are also activities led by adults, alongside teaching and support for groups and individuals. This gives children room to pursue an idea while adults help them take it further.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven learning areas. In parent terms, these cover relationships and emotions, language, physical development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Development Matters 2021 also guides the approach. Learning includes talking about family experiences, exploring materials, making music and using stories and imaginative play.
Adventure Island and Message Centre encourage imagination and early mark making. The nursery also uses the curiosity approach: loose parts become materials to build with, reuse and combine, giving children reasons to explain ideas and cooperate. Books are available for sharing with adults and other children, indoors and outside.
Children can move between indoor and outdoor learning. Ducklings uses the forest school area, adding opportunities to explore nature and make choices. In June 2025, children in early years explored water play and the mud kitchen confidently; substantial climbing equipment helped develop coordination and dexterity. Outdoor play supports both exploration and physical skills.
Settling begins before the first nursery day. An induction programme includes meetings and school visits for children and parents, while nursery families receive a home visit after the summer holiday, before their child starts. These contacts give families opportunities to build familiarity with the team.
In June 2025, early years staff supported language skilfully, including through conversations about familiar family photographs. Starting with something a child knows gives them a meaningful reason to talk.
Parents of children on the academy's SEND register are invited to review support each term. Teachers and the SENCO use an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with parents involved in decisions. Where a child's needs require further expertise, external specialists may contribute. Support can therefore be adjusted as the child's needs develop.
A lunch session can be booked. Academy meals use a family dining approach, and dietary needs and food allergies are catered for. Eating together provides another setting for social interaction.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. For the 2027–28 intake, attendance carries no priority: allocation uses the admission criteria rather than membership of Ducklings.
Families must make a separate Reception application through their home local authority. Derbyshire residents apply through Derbyshire County Council; families living elsewhere use their own authority. Applications must meet the closing date in the Derbyshire Coordinated Admissions Scheme. Keep this application separate from nursery booking.
Ducklings and the Reception class both use the forest school area. That provides continuity in a familiar learning environment, but it does not change the admissions process.
Morning nursery runs from 08:30 to 11:30, and afternoon nursery from 12:30 to 15:30. Funded attendance is offered for 15 or 30 hours, depending on eligibility, with lunch booked separately. The lunch arrangement matters when planning care between the two sessions.
Nursery applications use the school's online application form. Contact the academy at info@highfieldsspencer.org.uk or on 01332 955599 for enquiries and current charges.
The morning session is 08:30 to 11:30. The afternoon session is 12:30 to 15:30, and parents can book a lunch session.
Children can attend funded sessions for 15 or 30 hours, depending on eligibility.
Induction includes meetings and school visits for children and parents. Nursery pupils also receive a home visit after the summer holiday, before their first day.
Ducklings uses the forest school area. The June 2025 early years findings also describe mud kitchen play, water play and climbing equipment supporting physical development.
No. Nursery attendance neither guarantees a place nor confers priority for the 2027–28 intake. Parents must apply separately through their home local authority by the relevant closing date.
