Tibberton Community Primary School and Early Years Nursery Review

Den building, sensory play and an outdoor space children can access freely give Ladybirds its practical, exploratory character. This is the nursery at Tibberton Community Primary School and Early Years, on Orchard Rise in Tibberton. There are 41 children in the nursery, a roll figure rather than a measure of available places.

The school aims to help children learn, explore, aspire and flourish. For nursery families, the concrete expression of that ambition is a day shaped by children's interests, with resources they can choose independently and adults involved in their learning.

Children's interests help shape learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Here, that means exploration and play alongside teaching, with adults responding to what children are doing. Continuous Provision is the named approach: learning areas remain accessible so children can choose resources and return to an idea rather than finish it at a fixed moment.

Indoors, children have spaces for making and investigating, alongside books, mathematical activities, writing, construction and imaginative play. Adults observe, introduce vocabulary and offer support or a further challenge. That gives parents a useful picture of the balance: children make choices, while staff help extend what happens next. Small world play, sensory activities and building dens are among the nursery's specific examples.

Outside, the nursery has its own contained space with free-flow access. Outdoor activity can therefore be part of children's ongoing play. Forest School leaders also work across the nursery and school; nursery children have shown family visitors what they do at Forest School. Across the grounds, garden areas and a small pond sit alongside wildlife features including bug hotels and bat boxes.

Music brings another kind of activity. From the earliest years, children explore instruments, dance and sing, including music from different cultures. These are shared activities with room for both movement and expression.

A nursery SENDCo provides a specific contact for additional needs. Support can involve an individual My Plan, with teaching adapted to the child's needs and help delivered individually or in a small group. My Plans are reviewed three times a year, and parents can contribute at review meetings. This gives families a structured opportunity to discuss progress and changes to support.

Medical care has defined procedures across the school. Parents give written authorisation for medicines, administration is restricted to staff with first aid training, and another staff member checks the dose and signs the record. Paediatric first aider details are displayed in the nursery.

Cater Cater provides catering for the school. School meal choices include sandwiches, hot dishes and a vegetarian option each day; vegan meals and menus excluding gluten or dairy can be requested. These options give families with dietary requirements a concrete starting point for discussing meals.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Gloucestershire County Council admissions route.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was midnight on 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. Staff in the nursery and school work together on transition, but that preparation is separate from the allocation of a school place.

Enquiries can go to the school office at admin@tibberton.gloucs.sch.uk or by telephone on 01452 790469. Families can arrange a visit through the office or contact the nursery directly. The office operates during term time, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Outdoor clothing deserves attention: EYFS children need Forest School waterproofs in a named bag, and Wellington boots should also be named. This is practical preparation for the outdoor element of the day.