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Nursery at Thornhill Lees Church of England Voluntary Controlled Infant and 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Sun and Moon sessions for older nursery children, Stars and Shooting Stars for two-year-olds: Thornhill Lees organises its youngest children into distinct morning and afternoon groups. Both provisions sit on the infant school site on Slaithwaite Road in Dewsbury. This is a nursery day built around three-hour sessions.
The age groups have separate provision: one for two-year-olds and another for children aged three and four. Children can begin the older nursery in the term following their third birthday. For families, that distinction matters when choosing the appropriate starting point and session.
Language and familiar routines give the day its shape. At the September 2023 inspection, Ofsted found that early-years children used songs and rhymes to learn routines, while conversations with adults helped their communication develop. Games and activities also extended vocabulary. These are practical foundations for a young child: understanding what happens next and finding words to join in.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning with children's health and care. Its areas include movement, communication and emotional development, alongside early maths, literacy, creative expression and learning about the world. Birth to 5 Matters is the framework used by the school's early-years team. The emphasis is broader than early reading alone.
Each morning or afternoon lasts three hours, with a weekly session total of 15 hours. Sun runs in the morning and Moon in the afternoon; the two-year-old groups follow the same times. Families can therefore plan around a defined half-day pattern.
Predictable routines also support children as they begin nursery. In September 2023, early-years children were helped to communicate their feelings as well as learn daily routines. That gives emotional expression a place alongside learning.
The nursery application form invites parents to share speech or developmental concerns, diet, toilet training and sleep routines, plus details of external agencies already involved. It creates an opportunity to explain a child's care needs before starting.
For additional needs, the school's December 2025 SEND policy describes a sensory room for children who need help with sensory regulation. Its SEND information report includes visual timetables and now-and-next boards among possible adaptations. Support is planned around individual needs, rather than assuming the same resources suit every child. Parents can arrange a conversation with the SEND coordinator through the office.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Kirklees' online primary admissions route and meet the deadline for their child's entry year.
The admissions page's dated example concerns September 2025 entry, for which applications closed on 15 January 2025. Treat that as a past cycle when planning ahead. Keep the nursery application and the Reception application as separate tasks.
Morning sessions run from 8.40am to 11.40am; afternoons run from 12.30pm to 3.30pm for both age groups. Nursery collection and drop-off use the large Nursery Gate, with two-year-olds also using their own entrance.
Nursery waiting lists are managed by the school. Families can download the relevant application form or collect it from the office, then return it with a copy of their child's birth certificate. For eligible two-year-olds, the admissions page directs families to Kirklees to check access to 15 hours of funded childcare. The office can also arrange a school visit. Contact it on 01924 430548.
There is separate provision for two-year-olds and for children aged three and four. Entry to the older nursery begins in the term after a child's third birthday.
Both age groups have morning sessions from 8.40am to 11.40am and afternoon sessions from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.
No. Families must apply separately through Kirklees' online primary admissions route by the deadline for their entry year.
Download the appropriate nursery application form or collect it from the school office. Return the completed form to school with a copy of the child's birth certificate.
Arrange an appointment with the school's SEND coordinator through the office or telephone 01924 430548. The nursery form also asks about developmental concerns and agencies supporting the child.
