Hatfield Woodhouse Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, songs and an outdoor space built for play give Hatfield Woodhouse’s nursery its character. Nursery forms part of the school’s Foundation Stage provision on Main Street in Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster. The emphasis is on developing communication through play, with adults extending children’s interests rather than simply directing activities.

Play provides the starting point for learning. Practitioners teach skills through children’s activities, adjust the provision around their interests and use questions to develop their thinking. Children have opportunities to choose their learning and practise what they have already learnt. For parents, this means play has a teaching purpose: adults help an interest become an opportunity to talk, investigate or solve a problem.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach follows Development Matters, with observation and assessment helping staff decide what each child needs next. Reading Enhanced Curriculum, Talk 4 Writing and Launchpad for Literacy Strategies sit alongside it. Stories and poetry, together with singing and rhymes, give children material for conversation and language development.

Launch Pad for Literacy begins in Nursery. Staff identify existing skills and areas for development, then build communication and language practice into everyday teaching. The next steps depend on the child’s starting point. This gives early literacy a place within ordinary play and interaction.

Outside, a substantial open area can be used in different weather conditions. It extends the classroom, and children are encouraged to use it across the day. Natural materials feature prominently, while activities change in response to children’s needs. Play here includes mathematical learning and personal, social and emotional development, giving outdoor time a purpose beyond physical activity alone.

Settling begins before a child starts Nursery. Home visits, a meeting for nursery families and information packs accompany stay and play sessions. These offer opportunities to become familiar with the setting and discuss a child’s needs. Where additional needs require advance planning, meetings can involve parents, teaching staff, the SEND coordinator and relevant professionals.

Class dojo connects learning at school with home. Staff share observations and class updates; parents can respond through the app and contribute milestones of their own. That creates a practical way to exchange information about a child’s development in both places.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) operates within the school’s mainstream provision. Teaching and resources are adapted to individual needs, with additional adult help or small group work where needed. Support plans use an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with termly reviews or more frequent discussion where concerns require it. Parents contribute to the process, so support can take account of their experience at home.

School catering uses menus that change each term. The school describes its meals as balanced and nutritious. Water is freely accessible, and children are encouraged to use reusable bottles.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal local authority process and meet the deadline for their entry year.

For the 2023/2024 admission cycle, nursery attendance carried no oversubscription priority: the criteria covered looked-after or previously looked-after children, catchment residence, siblings and distance. Nursery attendance was also excluded when considering a sibling’s attendance. Families should therefore treat choosing Nursery and obtaining a Reception place as separate decisions.

Nursery children wear royal blue knitwear or a sweatshirt, with grey or black bottoms and a white top. A logo is optional on the blue garment. Summer alternatives include a blue checked dress or shorts. Label clothing and coats to help identify belongings.

For enquiries, contact the school on 01302 651031 or email info@hatfieldwoodhouse.org.uk. Visits can be arranged by contacting the school, giving families an opportunity to see the provision before deciding.