Brooke Primary Academy Nursery

Dough disco, garden care and songs give Brooke’s Foundation One nursery its own character within the primary academy. At Wike Gate Road in Thorne, children learn through stories, movement, making and conversation, with morning, afternoon and all-day sessions offering different ways to organise the nursery day.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 13 and 14 September 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The detail matters: children developed friendships and worked together, but the connection between early learning and the later curriculum needed attention.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning to communicate and manage feelings with physical development, early mathematics, books, creativity and exploring the world. Here, the autumn theme Marvellous Me brings those areas together through family photographs, self-portraits and stories including Owl Babies and Elmer. Children practise counting objects and spotting shapes while also recognising letters in their names.

Foundations for Phonics from Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised develops attention to sounds through voices, instruments, rhyme and listening. Nursery children visit the school library weekly. In the spring theme Our Nursery can Rhyme, familiar songs become starting points for learning: The Wheels On The Bus connects with transport books, while Chick, Chick, Chicken introduces animal life cycles.

Physical learning reaches beyond pencil practice. Dough disco develops hand movements; bikes, scooters, a climbing frame and the trim trail give children opportunities to move and balance. Caring for the Foundation Stage garden and school garden brings natural materials and growing plants into their learning. Role play, construction and percussion add further ways to experiment.

In September 2023, adults demonstrated how to speak and listen respectfully, helping children cooperate and take turns. They also adjusted activities using their assessments of children’s learning. Curriculum continuity. Early years learning did not connect sufficiently with Year 1 and beyond, leaving children less prepared for later study. Families should weigh that concern alongside the practical and social experiences nursery provides.

Feelings and independence are part of the learning day. Circle time, conversations over snacks and Jigsaw activities address emotions, sharing and personal care. Baking takes place every half term, giving food a practical place in learning; children staying all day have a lunch period from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

For children needing additional transition support, stay-and-play sessions in the foundation unit may include a parent or guardian. The SENCO and Early Years Lead liaise with previous childcare providers, and adjustments to the environment can be arranged before a child starts. This gives families a way to prepare for a change of setting together.

Brooke’s school-wide SEND arrangements include individual support plans and termly discussions with parents. Speech and Language Therapy Service and Occupational Therapy are among its external partners. Support can therefore involve specialist advice as well as classroom strategies.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Doncaster Council’s normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. For 2027-2028 entry, nursery attendance confers no priority: allocation instead uses the published criteria covering care status, catchment, siblings and distance, following provision for children whose EHCP names the school.

Transition support is a separate matter. Within-school arrangements can include a transition booklet, individual or group support and meetings with parents for children who need extra preparation. Familiarity with the setting should never be mistaken for an admissions advantage.

Morning nursery runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoon nursery runs from 12.15pm to 3.25pm. The all-day option lasts from 8.45am to 3.25pm. Both 15-hour and 30-hour provision depend on availability, so the session pattern matters when planning family routines.

Adults take Foundation One children to the classroom door and collect them there. For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01405 812200 or br-admin@vennacademy.org. Foundation One families needing before-school childcare should contact the office. Refer to the school for current charges.