Auckley Primary Academy Nursery Review

Songs, conversation and early mark making give Auckley’s nursery its character. The emphasis is on learning to communicate, developing physical skills and becoming more independent, with early reading woven into that foundation. This is the nursery within Auckley Primary Academy on School Lane in Doncaster, with children starting from age 3.

The wider school grounds include allotments, a fish pond, a wild flower meadow and a Forest School woodland area. These are features of the school site, rather than a description of a separate nursery playground.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s language, movement, thinking and emotional development. Auckley aims to build these foundations through exploration, active involvement and learning to think through problems. For parents, the emphasis is on children developing the skills to express themselves and pursue their interests alongside their first steps in reading and number work.

Songs and rhymes sit alongside early communication, social development and number understanding. Physical development includes making marks. Painting, using tools and experimenting with writing materials give children practical ways to develop control; talking about patterns, movement and shapes links those activities to language. Writing starts with what hands and bodies can do.

Read Write Inc. provides the phonics approach, with early exposure in Nursery. Children encounter the relationship between letters and sounds as part of their introduction to reading. At the inspection on 6 and 7 June 2023, Ofsted found that Nursery children listened to letter sounds and started writing them when ready. Early years teaching also used effective demonstrations of speech and vocabulary, giving children examples to draw on in their own communication.

Across the school, book corners, soft furnishings and natural materials form part of the indoor environment. Visual learning prompts and reading spaces give children reference points as they develop independence.

Early years staff support children’s exploration and conversation, with the school aiming to help them feel secure enough to share their interests. Emotional and social development are explicit priorities alongside physical and language skills.

For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school’s process involves discussion with families, additional assessment where needed and a support plan written together. Individual targets are reviewed each term. Speech and language therapy, educational psychology or specialist teaching advice may be sought, with parental permission for outside involvement. That gives families a role in deciding and reviewing support.

Medical conditions, allergies and medication requirements should be shared with the office, with the relevant forms completed. Medication must be labelled and given to the office, keeping the care instructions with the team responsible for receiving it.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Doncaster Council handles the school’s admissions, providing the primary application route. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The school office can be contacted on 01302 770701 or at admin@auckleyprimary.co.uk. A contact form provides another enquiry route. School visits are welcomed and can be arranged by contacting the school, giving families an opportunity to discuss the nursery before choosing it.