Canon Popham CofE Primary Academy Nursery Review

Circles drawn by nursery children and self-portraits made with fingers give Canon Popham’s nursery a concrete starting point: young children learning through making marks. These are small tasks with a clear purpose. They connect early mathematical shapes with the beginnings of drawing, giving parents something more specific to picture than a general promise of learning through play.

The nursery forms part of Canon Popham CofE Primary Academy in Edenthorpe, Doncaster. The school’s age range begins at three, and its religious character is Church of England. The nursery examples below belong to October 2022; they offer a dated picture of children’s learning rather than a description of a current daily timetable.

Early mathematics has a tangible starting point here. At the inspection on 11 and 12 October 2022, teaching in the early years was judged to be well planned, with nursery children working on drawing circles. A shape became something children could produce themselves. For parents, that example helps explain how an apparently simple drawing activity can also be a mathematical task.

Self-portraits provided another starting point. In October 2022, nursery children had used their fingers to draw themselves. The subject was personal and the method physical: the activity connected an image of the child with marks made by their own hand. It gives a specific example of art at nursery age, rather than asking families to imagine a formal drawing lesson.

Taken together, these examples show two purposes for making marks: exploring a mathematical shape and representing oneself. That distinction matters when considering a young child’s learning. The finished picture is only one part of the activity; the circle or portrait also gives the task its focus. Both examples put the child’s own drawing at the centre of the work.

For parents thinking about their child’s starting point, the finger-drawn portrait is a useful detail. It provides a concrete example of participation through a physical activity, while circle drawing gives a focused mathematical task. Consider these examples alongside the kinds of making and drawing your child already enjoys. They offer a practical starting point for thinking about the nursery’s learning activities.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place in the school’s Reception class. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline.

Treat that application as a distinct decision in your planning. Choosing the nursery and obtaining a Reception place are separate steps, so nursery attendance should not be treated as confirmation of the next school place.

The nursery’s school address is Church Balk, Edenthorpe, Doncaster, DN3 2PP. The school telephone number is 01302884465. These are the practical contact details for families considering the nursery alongside its place within a primary academy.