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Nursery at Stonehill Nursery School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A Nursery Library book swap and ducklings hatched from eggs give Stonehill’s early education a concrete character: stories to revisit, living things to investigate and experiences families can share. This nursery school on Stonehill Road, Derby, serves children aged two to five and is federated with Dale Community Primary School. It has its own identity, rather than being a nursery classroom within Dale.
The provision has separate pages for two-year-olds and for children aged three and four. For the youngest children, the curriculum starts with their existing interests and skills, with an emphasis on communication, physical development and learning to manage feelings and relationships. These are useful foundations for taking part in nursery life.
Books connect the day’s learning. A core text returns across a topic so children can deepen their understanding through repeated storytelling. Songs, nursery rhymes and listening activities introduce early reading skills; children who are ready move towards splitting spoken words into sounds and joining those sounds together. This gives families a recognisable thread to continue at home.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum brings together language, movement and social development with early maths, literacy, creative work and exploration of the world. Stonehill draws elements from Montessori, Te Whāriki, Steiner, Hygge and The Curiosity Approach. Its two-year-old provision gives extra emphasis to the foundational areas, while retaining scope to follow individual interests.
Learning extends beyond books. Enrichment examples include Bluebells farm, encounters with local PCSOs, park trips and watching eggs hatch into ducklings. Indoors and outdoors, children investigate nature and discuss their discoveries with adults. The Nursery Library also hosts Monday book swaps, with rhyme bags and story-sequencing cards to borrow for home.
The inspection of 17 December 2024 identified two weaknesses: some tasks were unsuitable for children’s developmental stage, and vocabulary teaching needed a clearer sequence that built on existing knowledge. Those concerns matter alongside the appealing experiences: activities need to fit the child, and repeated stories need to lead to progressively stronger language.
In December 2024, children settled into routines readily, including those joining part way through their early education. Adults helped them handle disagreements calmly through speech, visual symbols and demonstrated actions. Independence was practical: putting on coats, sharing toys and managing personal care. Snack time encouraged children to taste unfamiliar foods.
Teaching staff and teaching assistants work alongside a SENCo and an inclusion officer. Language support includes Elklan training and participation in the Hanen Program. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities joined songs and rhymes alongside their peers; adults recognised when children needed help with emotions or behaviour. Safeguarding arrangements were effective in December 2024.
For parents, the Parent Hub app carries learning ideas and core texts. Family Learning sessions run for 45 minutes on Thursday mornings and afternoons while children attend nursery, with no booking required. Speech and language therapists and family workers contribute, giving families opportunities to connect nursery learning with support at home.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Dale. Parents must make a separate application through Derby City central admissions; Stonehill describes the usual application period as the autumn term after the child’s third birthday. Treat this as a separate family task, rather than expecting nursery enrolment to carry forward automatically.
The federation with Dale is an organisational connection. It should be kept separate from the Reception application requirement.
Stonehill’s childcare options describe up to 15 funded hours weekly, arranged over three to five days, and a 30-hour option from age three for eligible families, taken during term time between 8am and 4.30pm. These describe different attendance arrangements, so eligibility and the chosen pattern need to be considered together.
To join the waiting list, complete the online form with parent contact details and the child’s name and birth date. The team then makes contact. Nursery enquiries and visits can also be arranged through the office on 01332 341636 or admin@stonehill.derby.sch.uk.
Access and parking. The building occupies one floor and is wheelchair accessible. There is no school parking, so families travelling by car use street parking and should plan their journey accordingly.
The recorded age range is two to five, with distinct provision for two-year-olds and for three- and four-year-olds.
Children share core books, sing, practise listening, explore indoors and outdoors, and develop independence. Enrichment examples include Bluebells farm and watching ducklings hatch.
Monday book swaps in the Nursery Library provide books, rhyme bags and story-sequencing cards. Parent Hub shares learning ideas, and Thursday Family Learning sessions offer further support.
No. Parents must apply separately through Derby City central admissions. The nursery describes the usual application period as the autumn term following the child’s third birthday.
Complete the online nursery waiting-list form, or contact the Stonehill office on 01332 341636 or admin@stonehill.derby.sch.uk.
