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Nursery at Dudley Wood Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play equipment outdoors, a home corner indoors and a forest school site in the school grounds give Dudley Wood Pre-School several ways to turn play into learning. This is the school’s nursery provision for children aged 3 to 4, within its Early Years Unit. Funded entry begins in the term after a child’s third birthday, subject to a place being available. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 2 and 3 July 2024.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning through play with activities guided by adults. Children have opportunities to follow their own interests as well as join planned learning. Dedicated outdoor space has play equipment; the nursery also shares the school’s hall, playground and forest school site. That gives physical activity room beyond the classroom.
Learning starts with familiar experiences. The autumn theme Me and My Family includes talking about relatives, developing friendships and exploring feelings. The Colour Monster and Owl babies are among the books used. In the home corner, children use imaginative play; painting and drawing let them experiment with tools and surfaces. These activities give children different ways to express ideas before writing develops.
Early literacy begins with listening: children identify environmental and animal sounds, share books and join songs and rhymes. Later activities include suggesting rhymes, clapping syllables and retelling stories with puppets. Number work includes sorting objects and recognising patterns, giving mathematical ideas a practical starting point.
Movement and independence sit alongside this learning. Scooters and tricycles feature in physical development, while play dough, threading and tweezers help children practise hand control. Dressing for wet play and learning to manage zips and buttons connect those skills to everyday tasks. In July 2024, early years children were developing their vocabulary through adult conversation, exploring problems and learning to cooperate with others.
Starting is staged. Early years families are invited to a welcome meeting, followed by stay and play with their child and then a session without the parent. Home visits and visits to previous settings are also part of the early years arrangements. These give staff opportunities to learn about a child before the new routine takes hold.
Parents can talk directly with the pre-school team through an open-door approach. Across the school, Seesaw shares examples of children’s activities, and text messages carry event updates. For families discussing SEND support, communication includes meetings, daily updates and family workshops.
Visual timetables and displays using muted colours are among the school’s approaches, including in pre-school. Support can involve speech and language specialists, with provision reviewed alongside families. Physical access needs careful planning: the pre-school has an external wheelchair-accessible entrance and an accessible toilet, but the internal route from the main school includes steps.
Learning adjustments. Across the school, the July 2024 findings included inconsistent adaptation for some children with additional needs and delays in correcting phonics errors in writing. Families needing extra support should discuss how activities will be adjusted for their child.
Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor gives an admissions advantage. Families must make a separate online application to Dudley Borough Council, meeting the deadline for their child’s intake. For the September 2026 intake, the deadline was 15 January 2026: 5pm for paper forms and midnight for online applications. That cycle is past.
Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND, changes of class or setting are planned individually, with information shared between settings and families involved. Familiarity with the school does not change the admissions position.
Morning sessions run from 8:50am to noon, and full days from 8:50am to 3:00pm. The weekday funded booking patterns also include a 9:00am to 3:00pm day and a noon to 3:00pm afternoon. Confirm which pattern applies when booking, as the morning starts differ.
Funding is accepted for 15 hours, or 30 hours where families qualify. It runs over 38 term-time weeks and cannot be stretched across the holidays. A two-and-a-half-day pattern depends on availability; other combinations of full or half days depend on capacity. Paid sessions are possible. Contact the school for current charges.
To enquire, call 01384 900640. The pre-school enrolment form goes directly to the school, and early years tours can be arranged throughout the year. Pre-school uniform can be purchased online. Children are expected to attend their booked sessions unless unwell, so choose a pattern the family can sustain.
Children aged 3 to 4. Funded provision begins in the term after the third birthday, subject to an available place.
No. It gives neither a guaranteed place nor an admissions advantage. A separate application to Dudley Borough Council is required.
No. Funding operates over 38 term-time weeks and is not stretched across the holidays.
There is dedicated outdoor learning space with play equipment, plus shared access to the school playground and forest school site.
Early years arrangements include a welcome meeting, stay and play with a parent and then without, alongside home visits and visits to previous settings.
