Thornton Grove Academy Nursery Review

An outside stage, daily stories and role play give Thornton Grove Academy’s nursery a character built around language and imagination. Children can sing, act and explore alongside the practical business of learning to cooperate. This is the school’s own nursery on Marshfoot Lane in Hailsham, welcoming children aged 3 and above from the term following their third birthday.

Classrooms and an outdoor play area provide spaces for indoor and outdoor learning. Families can choose a morning, afternoon or day session, making the length of attendance a practical part of the decision.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework guides planning and assessment. In parent language, learning combines conversation, relationships and physical skills with early reading, number work, creativity and exploration of the world. These strands meet in play: a child pretending to be a vet can practise talking, invent a story and explore a familiar community role.

Story time and rhyme time happen daily. Adults extend children’s vocabulary during conversations, while role play and small world play provide opportunities to develop their own stories. Mark making, songs and poems sit alongside this spoken language work. Counting includes exploring numbers to 10 and noticing their patterns and relationships.

Physical learning has concrete tools. Threading, tweezers and peg boards give children practice with small hand movements; outdoor apparatus provides opportunities for balancing and climbing. The outside stage adds a place for singing, dancing and performance. Children also explore seasonal changes and changes in matter, try foods associated with different cultures, and use art materials to make pictures or sculptures. The nursery aims to connect curiosity with practical experience.

Learning to manage feelings and personal needs is part of the nursery curriculum. Children practise building relationships and cooperating, alongside learning about healthy eating and caring for their bodies. The school’s support provision includes Zones of Regulation, speech and language work, and Makaton. These are useful points of discussion for families considering communication or emotional support, rather than a promise that each child receives every intervention.

School dinners are an option for nursery children. Catering is managed in-house across STEP Academy Trust, and packed lunches are also permitted. Menus identify 14 key allergens, and shared recipes have been reviewed by a registered dietitian. Dietary needs. Meals cannot be individually tailored. Families with a diagnosed food allergy or intolerance need to inform the academy office immediately, so meal choices require careful attention.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The application route is through East Sussex. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions, even when the intention is to stay at Thornton Grove.

The Day Session runs from 9am to 3pm. Morning Session hours are 9am to 12pm, while the Afternoon Session runs from 12pm to 3pm. Each shorter session offers a different fit around family arrangements; the day option includes the lunchtime period.

The nursery accepts 30-hour childcare funding and charges for unfunded attendance. Contact the school for current charges. Nursery enrolment enquiries and tours can be arranged on 01323 819309 or by emailing office@thorntongroveacademy.org.

For everyday preparation, children need a water bottle, and clothing should be labelled. Thornton Grove book bags are recommended for EYFS children; limited cloakroom space means additional bags should be small. These modest details matter when packing for a session.