Gamesley Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Scooters, autumn leaves and familiar stories give Gamesley’s nursery its character: early learning starts with movement, conversation and play. Gamesley Early Excellence Centre operates inside the primary school building, with children able to join from the term following their second birthday. Catkins caters for two-year-olds; Conkers includes children preparing to start school the next September.

The nursery moved into the primary building in summer 2023. A refurbished Early Years Department provides the indoor setting, while the wider school grounds include play equipment and a large field. These are useful physical resources alongside the nursery’s practical, seasonal learning.

Play leads the day, with more formal learning added gradually over the year. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical skills and emotional development alongside early literacy, number, creativity and understanding the world. In Catkins, that means practising conversation, joining songs, choosing resources and learning to play together, rather than treating learning as desk work.

The two-year-old programme gives movement substantial attention. Children use trikes and scooters, practise handling large balls and explore climbing. Smaller movements get practice too: paintbrushes, scissors and snack preparation with a safety knife develop control through useful tasks. Colours of Autumn combines collecting leaves with colour mixing and nature collages; Get Ready to Grow introduces planting, watering and digging. Words connect to things children can handle and do.

Conkers extends that exploration through named projects. Once Upon a Time uses familiar tales for retelling and acting. Sunshine and Sunflowers combines outdoor learning with caring for living things, while Splash! explores objects that sink or float. These projects connect language and explanation with practical discovery. Local library and Forest School trips also feature in Let’s Explore.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at its April 2023 inspection. At that time, early years children demonstrated number understanding by recognising finger totals without counting, and showed scientific knowledge by identifying plants as living things. These findings concern the school’s EYFS provision at that date, rather than a separate nursery judgement.

Settling is part of the learning programme. Catkins staff help children separate from their grown-up, form relationships with familiar adults and find comfort when feelings become overwhelming. Adults model sharing and turn-taking, and help children put feelings into words. Conkers introduces classroom routines and friendship through Me and My Community.

Care includes developing independence with cups, coats and handwashing, alongside recognising when a nappy change is needed. Families supply nappies and wipes; using the nursery’s reserve supplies does not attract a charge. Snacks are free. Children staying for lunch can have a charged school meal or bring a packed lunch, with eligibility checked at enrolment for free meals when entitled children attend a full day.

For children with SEND, assessment on joining helps identify what support is needed. Parents contribute to Individual Pupil Overviews, whose teaching targets are reviewed at least three times annually. Adaptations can include visual timetables, extra processing time and individual or small-group teaching. Ramps and a lift support access around the school. Stay and Play sessions give families another way to share their child’s learning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal local authority process; the school participates in Derbyshire County Council’s coordinated admissions.

For the 2025–2026 admissions cycle, nursery attendance carried no priority in the Derbyshire oversubscription criteria, and the primary application deadline was 15 January. Families should follow their home local authority’s timetable for their child’s entry year. Familiarity with the school building must not be mistaken for an allocation advantage.

The funded Catkins afternoon runs from 12.20pm to 3.20pm; funded Conkers mornings run from 8.45am to 11.45am. Children with a 30-hour funding code attend until 3.20pm Monday to Thursday, finishing at 12.45pm on Friday. A paid Friday extension is possible.

Funding includes 15 hours from the term after a child turns three, with 30 hours available in qualifying circumstances; some two-year-olds qualify from the following term. Additional nursery hours can be purchased. Term-time wraparound runs between 7.30am and 6.00pm for children aged three and over, which can extend care beyond the nursery session. Contact the school office on 01457 853721 for enrolment enquiries or to arrange a visit. Ask the school for current charges.