Homefield VC CofE Primary School Nursery

A tyre swing, woodland climbing and children choosing between indoor and outdoor play give Homefield’s nursery a distinctly active character. This is a purpose-built nursery with 26 places, on the primary school site in Bradwell, Great Yarmouth. Children can start at the beginning of the term after their third birthday.

The nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years Department. Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 22 and 23 October 2024; that judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separate nursery inspection. The nursery’s character comes through most clearly in its balance of child-chosen play, adult support and practical independence.

Choice shapes the learning day. Children move between outdoor and indoor activities, while staff add materials and challenges connected to stories, vocabulary, children’s interests and their next learning steps. A Goldilocks activity is one example. Children can investigate alone, alongside friends or with an adult, giving them different ways to approach the same learning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together movement, language and social development with early maths, literacy, creative work and learning about the world. In parent terms, managing feelings and joining a conversation matter alongside counting and making marks. Birth to five matters guides assessment, helping staff consider development across these areas.

Outside, wet-weather suits and wellies support play in changing weather. The woodland area includes a tree-mounted tyre swing, and children can climb trees with support. Moving planks, crates and tyres gives physical play a purpose: building strength and coordination before the smaller movements needed for writing. Indoors, LEGO, playdough and pipettes offer opportunities to practise hand control. Nursery children also take part in Dough Disco and Scribble It, with letter formation and writing their names introduced when they are developmentally ready.

Language receives deliberate attention. WellComm helps staff identify speech and language needs and track children’s progress. In October 2024, nursery discussions about children’s explorations supported communication and laid foundations for reading. Music adds another route into listening: Charanga resources, daily rhymes and songs, and classroom instrument baskets give children sounds to distinguish and rhythms to explore.

Starting is a gradual process. Home visits are an aim, followed by school visits, Stay & Play, a short session apart from parents and an individually tailored staggered start. The key-person approach gives each child and family a consistent relationship through the Early Years Department. That makes settling a shared process rather than a single first-day handover.

Tapestry records development and supports communication with families. Half-termly Family Cafés bring parents into class to play and learn alongside their children, making participation practical as well as conversational.

Everyday care also becomes practice in independence. Children are encouraged to pour drinks, prepare fruit and select snacks, alongside dressing and toileting. Staff work with parents and recognise that children reach these stages at different times. WellComm provides a specific route for identifying language support; within the school’s SEND arrangements, families can raise concerns first with the class teacher, and Student Support Plans are reviewed half-termly, or more often according to need.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Norfolk County Council. Homefield requires parents to register their Reception request by the end of December before the September start, so the nursery place should never be treated as the application itself.

For children with SEND moving between classes, information passes to the next teacher in advance and teachers discuss the support required. This helps continuity of care and learning; it is separate from the allocation of a school place.

Homefield offers 30-hour funded nursery places, with hours usable flexibly across the week. This provides scope to arrange attendance around family routines. Nursery enquiries can be made through the school’s enquiry form or by emailing office@homefield.norfolk.sch.uk.

Uniform includes a navy or white polo shirt, grey trousers or skirt, and a school cardigan or jumper. Elasticated clothing and Velcro shoes support the independence practised during the nursery day. Label clothing so it can be returned to the right child.

Building move. The school is preparing to move to a new building, and its summer 2027 end-of-term date remains to be confirmed because of that move. Families planning childcare around the summer break should keep this calendar change in view.