West Grantham Church of England Primary Academy Nursery Review

Funky Fingers, a nursery rhyme area and stories twice a day give this nursery its character: play has a purpose, and books shape the learning. Children aged three join the early years provision at West Grantham Church of England Primary Academy on Trent Road in Grantham. A teacher and teaching assistants support the early years classroom, with a nursery key worker within the team.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good at the inspection on 10 and 11 October 2023. The early years curriculum was strong, with thoughtfully organised activities helping children become independent and eager to learn.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework for learning through play. Here, that means stories, practical activities and opportunities to explore inside and outside, with adults helping children extend what they can do. The early years classroom has generous space and plenty of light; a book area gives children somewhere to share stories, while the nursery rhyme area makes singing accessible beyond group activities.

Funky Fingers begins the day with activities that exercise hands and arms, preparing children for later pencil use. Learning also moves between whole-group introductions and smaller activities guided by adults. Songs recur throughout the day, and at least two daily story sessions bring fiction and non-fiction into the routine. These are concrete ways for children to practise listening, talking and joining in.

Penguin learning shows how a topic can develop. Nursery children have explored non-fiction books and watched penguins through Edinburgh Zoo's live webcam, commenting on what they noticed. They also handled ice and investigated its melting in the classroom. Observation becomes something to discuss and test. In another activity, nursery children decorated biscuits using yellow icing, rainbow sprinkles and jelly sweets.

Communication gives parents a part in the learning. Staff use Class Dojo for messages, observations and suggestions for activities at home; parents can respond and share their own observations. Conversations with the team also happen in person, so the exchange extends beyond an app.

Daily snack time includes milk and fruit. Children learn handwashing before eating, then sit together to talk over their snack. Afternoon and full-day nursery children can bring lunch from home or have a charged hot meal. Dietary requirements are catered for. Spare clothes should accompany children, and clothing needs labels, making changes after little accidents easier to manage.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the early years team works with the Special Educational Needs Coordinator on targeted learning and support during play. There is an important qualification: in October 2023, school-wide findings identified imprecise targets and insufficient curriculum adaptation for some pupils with SEND, alongside delays in reading catch-up for some pupils. Families should discuss specific learning targets and how progress will be reviewed.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, meeting the deadline for their child's entry year. The application route is Lincolnshire County Council school admissions.

Learning together is a separate matter from allocation of places. Nursery children have joined Reception children for biscuit decorating, giving them experience of a shared activity. Shared activities do not guarantee a Reception place; families must still apply separately.

Morning nursery runs from 8:40am to 11:45am; the afternoon runs from 12:00pm to 3:10pm. A full day spans 8:40am to 3:10pm. The nursery offers 15 funded hours, which can be divided to suit the child and family, and 30 funded hours for eligible children. Additional hours carry a charge; contact the school for current charges.

Tours of the early years environment are available with the Early Years Lead. Arrange a visit through the academy office on 01476 563963 or office@wgpa.snmat.org.uk. The different session lengths give families practical choices about how much of the day their child attends.