Westlands First School Nursery Review

Painting, playdough and block building give Westlands’ teacher-led nursery a practical, playful character. This is nursery provision within Westlands First School in Droitwich, with early years teaching taking place in large, multifunctional spaces. For parents seeking a school-based start, the important distinction is the combination of a nursery classroom and the wider school setting.

Shared carpet time gives the session a familiar starting point: children greet one another, listen to a story and may join in nursery rhymes. Room exploration follows. Blocks offer opportunities to construct, while paint and playdough give children different materials to work with. Numbers and letters also feature among the activities. The balance is between time together and time exploring.

These are concrete ways for young children to practise communication, use their hands and encounter early learning through play. The nursery describes a day involving friendships, investigation and exploration, rather than simply a sequence of formal lessons. Large spaces used for different activities support that varied classroom experience.

Read Write Inc is the named programme used for reading and phonics across Early Years. Alongside the nursery’s stories, rhymes and letter activities, it gives parents a specific approach to recognise when discussing their child’s developing interest in language. The classroom activities matter just as much: building, making and exploring provide several ways for children to take part.

Additional needs have a defined support process. The Early Years team works with the school’s special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) and the Early Years Inclusion Team through the Graduated Response. This connects nursery staff with specialist support rather than leaving concerns solely within the classroom.

For children on the SEND register, an Individual Provision Map or Individual Support Plan records targets or strategies and their Graduated Response level. The child’s key person shares this information more frequently with parents. That gives families concrete goals to discuss and a named role through which to follow their child’s support. Permission is sought by the class teacher or SENCO before a child is added to the register.

A child with special educational needs may also be referred to a pre-school forum. Forums meet in Worcester, Kidderminster and Redditch to consider children’s needs. Recommendations for specialist placements depend on further assessment and available places; referral itself does not secure a placement.

Communication also includes Class Dojo, which shares learning updates and recognition of children’s achievements. New children receive an invitation to their class, giving parents a way to keep conversations about learning going at home.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. The starting-school route is through Worcestershire County Council.

Keep this application separate from your child’s nursery arrangements. Becoming familiar with a school and receiving an offer of a Reception place are different matters, so nursery attendance should never replace that application.

The nursery enquiry route is the school office, on 01905 772740. Families can also contact office@westlands.worcs.sch.uk. Visits to the school can be arranged through the office, providing a practical first step for discussing joining the nursery.

Personal routines begin with a coat peg and handwashing. These small tasks give children something concrete to practise as they become familiar with their nursery day.