Newfield Park Primary Academy Nursery Review

Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics and small-group work with an artist in residence give Newfield Park’s nursery two concrete strands of learning: early reading and creative expression. This is the nursery within Newfield Park Primary Academy in Halesowen, taking children from three years old until they start school.

Families can visit with their child while nursery is in session. That offers a useful chance to see the surroundings together before the first day, rather than making the induction a child’s first introduction to the setting.

Early reading begins in nursery through Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics. It gives this stage its own named starting point within the school’s phonics teaching. The school adapts the Little Wandle programme to its needs, rather than describing a separate nursery reading scheme.

Creative learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework’s Expressive Art and Design area. In plain parent language, this is the creative side of early learning. An artist in residence works with small groups during the year, including nursery children, to develop their art skills. The small-group arrangement gives children a different setting for creative work alongside their usual learning.

Across the school, children’s artwork is displayed on corridor boards. The school also has three Forest School sites. These are school facilities; the nursery’s named learning details here are its foundations for phonics and its involvement in art.

Settling starts with an informal play induction attended by children and their parents or carers. Children meet their key worker and other children, and explore their new surroundings. Adults can raise concerns and ask questions at the same session, giving the nursery a chance to hear about the child before attendance begins.

The nursery says it will respond to individual settling needs, recognising that children adjust differently. Before admission, families complete and return the child’s paperwork. The Nursery Manager telephones during the half term before the intended start, followed by a written offer that parents acknowledge.

At school level, SEND support includes individual and small-group interventions, with some support within classes. The kitchen is run in-house, and the school asks families to raise allergies or dietary requirements directly. Its autumn menu includes Meat Free Monday and vegan choices.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through their local council’s online admissions system and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year.

For the September 2026 Reception intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions, so families should keep the council application alongside their nursery arrangements.

Nursery hours are 8.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Thursday, with Friday finishing at 11.30am. Parents who extend Friday attendance to 3.30pm incur an additional charge. The shorter Friday therefore matters when arranging collection; contact the school for current charges.

Eligible children can access 15 hours of free early education on a part-time basis for two years, from the beginning of the term after their third birthday until they reach compulsory school age. Nursery applications go directly to the school: call 0121 838 9590 or email info@nppa.shirelandcat.net. The same contact details can be used to book a tour.