Toll Bar Primary School Nursery Review

A Pirate Boat in the Foundation playground and a learning approach built around exploration give Toll Bar’s nursery some distinctive detail. Known as Ash, the nursery belongs to Toll Bar Primary School on Askern Road in Doncaster. Children usually join in September after their third birthday.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 1 and 2 July 2025. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating. For parents, the useful detail is the attention given to children’s thinking, alongside support for families before their child starts.

Playing, keeping going and thinking things through shape the learning approach. Toll Bar’s Learning Monsters draw on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and its Characteristics of Effective Learners. In parent language, the emphasis is on children exploring ideas, becoming involved in learning and working out how to approach a challenge. These are habits for learning, alongside the knowledge children acquire.

In July 2025, the early years curriculum supported children’s development, and adults used questions to encourage thoughtful responses in a stimulating nursery learning environment. The implication is practical: adult involvement helps children think about their learning, rather than simply finish an activity.

Outside, the Foundation playground contains the Pirate Boat purchased by Friends of Toll Bar Primary School. It gives the outdoor space a recognisable play feature. The Foundation unit also holds stay and play sessions and activities that parents can join, creating opportunities to take part in their child’s school life.

Settling begins with contact between home and school. The parent support team works with Foundation staff on Head Start visits and home visits. Families can raise concerns during the home visit, helping staff identify children’s needs early. Stay and play offers another opportunity for parents to become involved.

Early Help support extends to difficulties at home as well as school, including behaviour, emotions and family routines. Referrals to local services require parental consent. For concerns about additional learning needs, parents can speak with the class teacher or SENDCO and discuss the support their child receives.

Milk has a clear arrangement: children under five can receive it free through registration with Cool Milk. The school also prohibits foods containing nuts because of severe allergies, a rule families need to observe when preparing food to bring in.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Doncaster Council’s online admissions process. Choosing Ash therefore means choosing the nursery experience, while keeping the later school application as a separate task.

Doncaster Council sends parents a letter explaining how to apply online for Reception. The school office can assist families who have difficulty completing an application.

For general enquiries, contact the school office on 01302 874324 or email admin@tollbar.doncaster.sch.uk. Parents can contact the nursery teacher directly at ash@tollbar.doncaster.sch.uk, giving Ash families a specific route for classroom queries.

Emails are answered between 8:30am and 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. For a conversation with the parent support team, families can telephone the school to arrange a meeting. This offers a route for discussing concerns that need more time than a brief message.