Goldsmith Primary Academy Nursery Review

Curiosity gives Goldsmith’s youngest children a clear starting point: stories, exploratory play and conversations that build independence alongside language. Goldilocks is the provision for two-year-olds, within the nursery provision for children aged two to four at Goldsmith Primary Academy on Goldsmith Road, Harden. This is part of the school’s early years provision.

In November 2025, Ofsted judged early years to be Strong standard. Children in the two-year-old setting showed sustained interest and concentration, with adults developing their thinking through questions and everyday routines.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas of development. For parents, that means learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently alongside early reading, number work, creativity and discovering the world. Toileting and personal hygiene are learning too. Staff observe children during their play and use those observations to plan what comes next, so individual interests help shape activities.

The Curiosity Approach adds a distinctive emphasis on children’s own investigations. Adults extend ideas rather than prescribe every activity; open-ended materials include fabric, wood and metal. Goldsmith aims to use this approach to encourage conversation and exploration. A material can become part of several different games, giving children room to make decisions and test ideas.

Stories lead into retelling and performance, while drawing and painting give children ways to attach meaning to their marks. Number learning includes investigating measurement and shapes. Early listening follows Phase One of Letters and Sounds; in the final nursery term, letter sounds and memory prompts introduce blending through Read Write Inc. In November 2025, early years language support helped children develop vocabulary quickly, with singing, rhyme and storytelling woven into learning.

A child’s key worker is a point of contact for questions and concerns, alongside the safeguarding team. Staff and families exchange information about incidents or worries arising at home or in nursery, with records kept as part of safeguarding routines. All staff working within or alongside EYFS have paediatric first aid training. Medication requires parents’ written consent.

Emotional understanding has a practical classroom tool: Zones of Regulation. Younger children use their photographs or name labels on magnetic boards to indicate feelings, supported by adults through play and discussion. That gives a child a visual way to communicate an emotion before they can explain it fully.

WellComm screening is used in nursery and the two-year-old provision to identify speech and language needs. Children with SEND have individual education plans shared with parents, with support reviewed against their targets. Class Dojo allows families to message teachers and see learning updates; urgent messages go through the office. Lunch provision includes a hot meal, with packed lunches also an option.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. For late Reception applications, contact your home local authority; Walsall’s primary admissions service is the local contact. Keep this application separate from registering interest in nursery.

Morning sessions run from 8:40am to 11:40am; afternoons run from 12:20pm to 3:20pm. Goldilocks and nursery operate in term time only. These shorter sessions give families clear collection points to plan around: morning children leave through the main office, while afternoon collection is from the South playground.

Universal funding provides 15 hours from the term following a child’s third birthday, with no eligibility code needed. Eligible two-year-olds can receive 15 hours through Walsall’s Time 2 Start scheme. A 30-hour term-time offer is available for eligible working families with children aged two, three or four; eligibility codes need renewal every three months. Funded sessions carry no charge. Optional services can attract additional charges, including lunch and extra sessions; snacks have an optional contribution. Contact the school office for current charges.

Nursery uniform combines a white polo shirt with a black cardigan or jumper, black or grey bottoms and black school shoes. No tie is required. Register interest using the nursery enquiry form or call 01922 710182. Visits can also be arranged through the EYFS visit form.