Peterhouse CofE Primary Academy Nursery Review

Story time, funky fingers and bubble blowing gave Peterhouse CofE Primary Academy’s nursery its character at the December 2023 inspection: listening, using hands and learning to wait for a turn. The nursery forms part of the Church of England primary academy in Gorleston. Those activities combined preparation for later learning with practice in playing alongside other children.

The early-years findings from December 2023 give a concrete picture of that experience. Children understood classroom routines, chose equipment independently and responded to adults’ expectations. These are useful foundations for a child’s growing independence.

Listening was an important part of nursery learning at the December 2023 inspection. Children practised paying attention to sounds through selected stories and rhymes, preparing for the sound blending involved in learning to read. The emphasis was on developing the listening skills that come before that later step. Story time gave this work a familiar form.

At that inspection, funky fingers also featured among the activities children enjoyed. Bubble blowing provided a different kind of practice: children waited patiently during a shared game. Taking turns was a strength. For parents, these examples show how ordinary play can involve both participation and self-control, rather than learning being confined to an adult-led task.

In December 2023, independence extended to using the classroom. Early-years children gathered the resources needed for their activities themselves and moved sensibly between tasks. They also learnt classroom routines quickly and paid attention to adults. This made choosing equipment and understanding what happened next part of the learning experience.

At the December 2023 inspection, older pupils contributed to nursery life by volunteering to prepare activities and help clear them away. That brought contact with other children in the school into the nursery’s everyday setting, through practical help with play.

Support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities included individual planning at the December 2023 inspection. Early-years children had detailed support plans, and their needs were being met effectively. The useful distinction for families is that support was organised around children’s particular needs, with plans giving that work a clear structure.

At the December 2023 inspection, adults’ expectations also supported the social side of the day. Nursery children responded positively when asked to wait during games, while early-years children developed attentive listening and familiarity with routines. These small habits matter: they help children take part in shared activities and manage classroom tasks with increasing independence.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a place in Peterhouse’s Reception. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Treat choosing the nursery and securing a Reception place as two separate decisions; participation in nursery activities does not itself settle the later admissions outcome.

The nursery is part of Peterhouse CofE Primary Academy at Magdalen Square, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, NR31 7BY. The school’s telephone number is 01493661046, providing a direct contact route for families considering the nursery.