Lark Rise Academy Nursery

Early reading gives Lark Rise Academy’s nursery a clear character: children build the skills that come before learning letter sounds. This is the school’s own nursery on Cartmel Drive in Dunstable. At the March 2025 inspection, it comprised one Nursery class; Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Pre-phonics is a concrete strength. In March 2025, nursery children had developed secure foundations for the next stage of learning to read: connecting letters with their sounds. The emphasis is on preparation, giving children something to build on when formal phonics begins.

Predictable routines also matter here. In early years, clear directions and consistent routines help children understand what adults expect of them. This gives the learning day a structure children can recognise and follow.

Planning starts with the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and takes account of individual children’s needs. For parents, this means building foundations for reading, learning how to follow everyday routines and expectations, and developing social and emotional skills. Teaching can be adjusted to a child’s pace, with changes to resources and expectations where needed. For a child with additional needs, the school’s Graduated Approach combines classroom adjustments with more targeted support when required. Personalised resources and interventions are selected around the child’s next steps, rather than treating additional support as a single package.

Parents have a defined role in planning additional support. Nursery SEND Support Plans are reviewed every 6-8 weeks, with families involved in agreeing what happens next. Children’s preferences and ways of receiving help are captured through One Page Profiles. These give discussions a personal starting point, alongside assessments of learning and development.

Communication support includes staff preparation: an Early Years teacher, a teaching assistant and the SENDCo have completed Communication Champion training. Across the school, adjustments can include visual aids, extra thinking time and specialist equipment. These are practical ways to change how a child accesses learning.

The school building has ramps and a single-storey layout, with no stairs. Classroom arrangements and toilets are adapted where required, including specialist equipment to support independence. Parents can discuss concerns or successful strategies from home with the class teacher; the SENDCo can also be contacted by telephone, email or an arranged meeting.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority, using its online or paper application process and meeting the deadline for their entry year.

For September 2027 entry, nursery attendance gives no oversubscription priority. Children with an Education, Health and Care plan naming the school are admitted first; the remaining criteria concern care status, qualifying staff children, siblings and distance. Choosing the nursery therefore needs to stand on its own merits.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND, information reaches the next teacher ahead of the move. Depending on individual needs, preparation can include classroom visits with a familiar adult, photo books and time getting to know new adults.

The school office handles enquiries and can arrange a school visit. Contact office@larkrise.com or telephone 01582 607852. The address is Cartmel Drive, Dunstable, LU6 3PT. A visit offers families a direct opportunity to discuss their child’s needs with the school.