Coney Hill Community Primary School Nursery Review

Rhyme, stories and a teddy to take home give Coney Hill’s preschool its clearest character: an introduction to reading that reaches beyond the classroom. The nursery provision belongs to Coney Hill Community Primary School on Coney Hill Road in Gloucester. Its early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection on 2 and 3 July 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Listening comes first. Preschool children work on Phase 1 of Unlocking Letters and Sounds, learning to recognise and make sounds through rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. They also practise blending sounds aloud and separating spoken words into sounds. For parents, the distinction matters: this is preparation for reading through speech and listening, rather than an expectation that children already read independently.

Stories have a place alongside those sound games. In July 2024, children in the early years enjoyed shared stories, listened attentively and wanted to participate. That gives the reading work a social dimension: children hear a story together and join in, as well as practising individual sounds.

Books also connect preschool with home. The Hiller Bedtime bags include books, a cuddly teddy, hot chocolate and a diary for recording the reading experience. Bags go home on Fridays with two children in each class and return the following Friday. This gives families a concrete activity to share across the week.

The preschool staffing structure includes a Preschool Lead and a Preschool Teaching Partner. An EYFS and Preschool Lead also holds responsibilities for early reading, phonics, oracy, and speech and language. These roles place spoken communication alongside the first steps towards reading.

Support sits within the wider school team. There is a SENDCo, while the Family Services Manager is also the Designated Safeguarding Lead. These are distinct responsibilities for learning needs and family support, giving parents identifiable roles to approach.

For reading together at home, the Hillers EYFS YouTube channel includes staff-read stories and videos supporting phonics understanding. The bedtime bag’s diary gives families another way to record what they have shared.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions route and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year.

For September 2025 entry, Gloucestershire handled admissions through a Common Application Form submitted to the Access to Learning Team by 15 January 2025. That cycle gave priority to looked-after and previously looked-after children, then siblings, then proximity to school; nursery attendance conferred no priority. Those dates belong to a past entry cycle.

General enquiries go to the school office on 01452 522734 or admin@coneyhill.gloucs.sch.uk. The school’s address is Coney Hill Road, Gloucester, GL4 4NA.

Families can also use the School Community Book Swap in the entrance hall beside the office, with another book swap outdoors opposite the Nurture building. Books can be taken home, returned or donated, extending the shared-reading opportunities beyond the preschool’s bedtime bags.