Serlby Park Academy Nursery

Painting, pumpkin soup and outdoor play featured in Serlby Park Academy’s early years at the October 2023 inspection, while nursery children practised tracing familiar letter shapes. These observations give a concrete picture of practical early learning. This is nursery provision within an all-through academy in Bircotes, where the school’s age range starts at three. Children begin their education within a wider school setting.

Ofsted graded the early years provision Good following its inspection on 10 and 11 October 2023. That judgement covers the academy’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning starts with things children can do and explore. In October 2023, early years children took an enthusiastic part in outdoor play, painting and preparing pumpkin soup. These examples bring practical activity into the learning picture, alongside opportunities to develop familiarity with numbers and words.

Early writing has a physical starting point. Nursery children prepared their fingers before tracing familiar letter shapes, linking hand movements with letters they recognised. For parents, this gives a concrete picture of the first steps towards writing: working on the movements involved as well as recognising the shape.

Across the early years, children developed concentration quickly and became more confident in October 2023. Activities involving language and numbers sat alongside creative and outdoor experiences. The emphasis was on children taking part, with practical tasks giving them something tangible to engage with.

Personal care comes with explicit expectations for adults. Across Delta Academies Trust, intimate care must be undertaken by employees with appropriate training. Staff must tell another adult about the task, explain it to the child and protect the child’s privacy. These requirements matter when a young child needs help with a private care routine.

Independence also has a place. Adults must encourage children to manage self-care where possible and must avoid helping with tasks a child can do themselves. Physical contact must suit the adult’s role and take account of the child’s response; regular contact requires an agreed plan involving parents and senior staff.

For first aid and agreed medication, staff must have suitable training and qualifications. Arrangements must secure parental consent, with parents updated as required. Adults must also explain to the child what is happening. This places communication with both child and parent alongside the practical care task.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions, even though both concern the same academy.

The academy is on Whitehouse Road, Bircotes, Doncaster, DN11 8EF. For nursery enquiries, telephone 01302742535. This gives families a direct school contact when considering a place.