Old Clee Primary Academy Nursery Review

Feelings, farm animals and journeys into space give Old Clee’s nursery year its shape. This is the nursery within Old Clee Primary Academy on Colin Avenue in Grimsby, with learning organised around themes that move from children’s own experiences towards the world beyond them.

The opening theme, All About Me, includes kindness, sharing and feelings. Settling belongs within the learning plan itself. For a child beginning school life, that puts relationships and understanding everyday boundaries alongside learning new things.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together children’s learning and development: talking and listening, movement, relationships, early reading and mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Here, the nursery themes give those areas concrete subjects to explore.

Down by the Farm introduces farm animals and the life cycle of a chick. Later, What Is Changing? takes in growing, healthy foods and caring for teeth. These are recognisable subjects for young children, connecting their learning with living things and everyday care.

Stories give the themes another route into children’s imaginations. Farmer Duck accompanies the farm theme, while Whatever Next supports the exploration of space. Rosie’s Walk appears alongside work on movement and journeys. The named books give parents useful opportunities to revisit familiar stories together at home.

Early mathematics includes grouping objects. In April 2023, nursery children counted while hopping between numbered hoops. That example joins physical activity with number practice, making counting something children can act out as well as say.

Settling starts before the first nursery session: staff visit children at home before they begin. This gives families an opportunity to introduce their child in familiar surroundings and discuss needs before the change to school life.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the academy uses a cycle of assessing needs, planning support, putting it into practice and checking its impact. Parents contribute to decisions about support and the next steps. The practical point is that provision can be adjusted as staff learn more about what helps an individual child.

Nursery children may receive additional help through the Early Years Inclusion Funding Pathway. Across the academy, support can include personalised learning plans and work with specialist services; it depends on the child’s assessed needs. Families discuss learning concerns with the class teacher first, with the SENCO involved when needed.

Pastoral staff also have roles in social skills and social communication work for the EYFS. These offer a specific connection between the academy’s support structure and its youngest children, where learning to communicate and take part with others is part of the day.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.

Transition preparation has its own staff responsibility: the EYFS Leader coordinates moves between the early years phases. Annual transition meetings share information about each child, giving the next team a starting point for understanding their needs. That preparation supports continuity of care and learning; it does not secure admission.

The academy office can be contacted on 01472 691887 or at contact@oldcleepa.co.uk. The address is Colin Avenue, Grimsby, DN32 8EN. For families discussing SEND support, the SENCO can be reached through the office, providing a direct route to the team coordinating additional provision.