Broom Cottages Primary & Nursery School: Nursery Review

Children’s own questions help shape nursery learning at Broom Cottages. Planned topics sit alongside smaller projects sparked by children’s interests, giving their ideas a place in what happens next. This is the school’s own nursery on Broom Road in Ferryhill, within its early years provision.

Ofsted graded early years provision Good following the inspection on 6 and 7 July 2022. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The nursery gallery describes exploration inside and outdoors; the wider early years curriculum brings books, number work and the natural world into children’s learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is approached through practical experiences across seven learning areas. Children explore, talk, make things and try unfamiliar activities. Adults combine learning led by children with activities they guide themselves, including number work using White Rose Maths. There is room for both a child’s curiosity and an adult’s next teaching step.

Books have several roles. Reading areas change their selection to match children’s interests, while story sessions include familiar favourites, actions and repeated phrases. Books also go home for families to share. Nursery introduces Read Write Inc. when children are developmentally ready for links between sounds and symbols. Songs, rhyme and rhythm come first, alongside Fred talk: practice in joining spoken sounds into words.

Outdoor learning has concrete places to happen. The school garden and woodland support exploration of weather, seasons and minibeasts, as well as growing plants and herbs. In July 2022, early years children counted creatures in a bug hotel and watched wildlife from a bird hide. Those activities connect number and observation with things children can actually see.

Movement has its own named programme, Move it with Max, alongside energetic outdoor play and activities developing hand control. The early years offer also includes role play and opportunities to visit Ferryhill library and Durham Gala theatre, connecting stories and imagination with places beyond the classroom.

Settling was a strength of early years in July 2022: children became comfortable with routines quickly and learned to cooperate. Adults also recognised special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) promptly, with support enabling children to join activities. Vocabulary and chances to explain their learning were priorities, addressing communication difficulties and low confidence through everyday teaching.

Families have a defined part in SEND support. The school uses an Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle, with an individual support plan and parent reviews at least three times a year. Visual prompts can help children with language delay participate. The class teacher is the first contact for pastoral concerns, making care and learning part of the same conversation.

Healthy snacks feature in the early years curriculum, alongside discussions about tooth cleaning, handwashing and bedtime routines. Before a child starts, families provide dietary preferences, allergy details, health requirements and emergency contacts. This gives staff practical information for care. Brief conversations with staff are possible at the end of the day; concerns can also be discussed by appointment.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through Durham County Council’s normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Nursery applications go directly to the school, but main-school applications follow the council route.

Transition practice is a separate matter. The school’s arrangements include three move-up mornings, giving children time with their next teacher and classroom. For children needing additional support, arrangements can include earlier preparation, extra classroom time and a booklet to revisit at home. These support familiarity with the next stage; they do not secure admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoon nursery from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Children on the 30-hour nursery pattern attend from 8:30am to 3:15pm. These different finish times matter when planning collection.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01740 651 363 or email broomcottages@durhamlearning.net. Nursery application forms are returned to the school. Visitor parking is directed to the adjacent One Point car park; parking on site is restricted to staff and disabled visitors.