Hilton Spencer Academy Nursery

Lego, wooden blocks and outdoor construction give Hilton Spencer Academy’s nursery a practical, play-led character. The provision belongs to the school’s Early Years team, with a nursery teacher, a nursery teaching assistant and a nursery teaching assistant apprentice. That gives families a distinct nursery team within the larger primary school on Peacroft Lane in Hilton.

Purposeful play shapes learning here. Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which brings together seven learning areas: language and communication, emotional and social development, movement, literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning involves how children communicate, move, relate to others and explore, alongside early reading and number work.

Children have opportunities to direct their own learning, with the school aiming to develop curiosity and independence. The outdoor learning area extends that approach beyond the classroom. Construction has a substantial physical element: foam bricks, wooden blocks and polygon shapes allow children to make larger models outside. These materials give building ideas room to grow.

Indoors, creative areas let children choose materials for themselves. Junk modelling includes houses, rockets and space tools, while card folding, collage and cutting provide different ways to practise making. Baking involves mixing and spreading; food tasting includes Diwali food. These are concrete examples of early years learning through doing.

In January 2023, Ofsted found that early years activities sustained children’s interest and helped them rehearse developing skills. Mathematics was woven into activities to build number understanding, and the outdoor environment supported learning. Those findings concern early years within the school; they are not a separate nursery grade.

Settling involves becoming familiar with routines and expectations. In January 2023, children settled successfully, and adults developed close relationships with them and provided attentive care. For a child beginning nursery, that links emotional reassurance with learning how the day works.

Parents’ first contact is their child’s class teacher. Office staff can arrange a teacher appointment, giving families a direct route for discussing concerns. A SENDCo can also be contacted by email at SENDCO@hiltonspencer.org.uk.

The school aims for children to participate and learn, with senior staff supporting teachers and partnership with families among its inclusion objectives. This is the school’s stated approach across its provision, rather than a claim about a particular nursery intervention.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Applications go through Derbyshire County Council. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions: familiarity with the school is not an assurance of admission.

The school office handles general enquiries at info@hiltonspencer.org.uk or on 01283 732334. The address is Peacroft Lane, Hilton, Derby, DE65 5GH. Existing parents can use the class-teacher contact route for questions about their child, with appointments arranged through office staff.