Boothferry Primary School Nursery Review

Pictures, scribbles and the first signs of recognisable letters give Boothferry’s nursery its clearest character: early writing starts with children finding ways to communicate. This is the nursery within Boothferry Primary School on Newport Street in Goole, with teaching shared between two nursery teacher roles, one combined with the assistant head role.

Ofsted rated the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 5 and 6 June 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Making marks has a purpose here. Nursery children use drawings to carry meaning, experiment with letter-like symbols and start noticing print around them. Groups of marks separated by spaces represent different words. For parents, the useful distinction is that these early attempts are treated as steps towards writing, rather than an expectation that children should already produce sentences.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) writing approach includes Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle and Scribble Club. The school describes these programmes as helping children prepare to write. Alongside them, nursery work on pictures, symbols and familiar print gives children several ways to express an idea before conventional spelling develops.

Reading and practical number work also feature in the wider early years provision. In June 2024, children were learning new phonics sounds rapidly and choosing books to enjoy alone or with an adult. They explored weight by comparing objects and practised making different amounts, becoming confident with numbers quickly. These are concrete foundations: listening to sounds, sharing a story and investigating quantities make early literacy and mathematics part of children’s activities.

Support for additional needs involves the school’s SEND co-ordinator, class teachers and support staff. Depending on the child, help may take place within a classroom group, in a smaller group outside the classroom or individually. This gives families several possible forms of support rather than a single fixed arrangement.

With parents’ full consent, the school may involve other professionals. These include a Speech and Language Therapist, an Educational Psychologist and the Sensory and Physical Support Service (SAPTS). The building is fully accessible, a practical consideration for families whose child has physical access needs.

Phonics support. In June 2024, some pupils across the school who found phonics difficult needed more precisely targeted help. This was a school-wide improvement point, rather than a finding specifically about nursery children. For families, it makes the detail of support for a child struggling with sounds a useful discussion topic.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application to the local authority where they live, meeting its application deadline. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the school’s admission authority, but families living outside East Riding apply through their own home authority.

Timing matters. Late applications are considered after those received on time, potentially when places have already been allocated. There is no supplementary information form for this school, so the local authority application is the essential step.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01405 762151 or email boothferry.primary@eastriding.gov.uk. The school business manager handles general information requests, while enquiries about special educational needs can be directed to the SEND co-ordinator through the office.

School visits can be arranged by telephone when families are considering an application. A visit provides an opportunity to discuss the nursery and the child’s needs with the school team.