Markington Church of England Primary & Nursery School: Nursery Review

Choosing Our Own Learning, shortened to COOL time, gives Markington’s nursery day its distinctive rhythm: children’s choices alternate with phonics, maths, singing and stories. This is nursery life within a Church of England primary school, with collective worship included in the morning routine.

The nursery caters for three and four year olds, and children can start in the term following their third birthday. They belong to Class 1 within the school’s early years provision. At the Ofsted inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024, early years provision was judged Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes learning here. In everyday terms, children develop language, physical skills and independence alongside early number work, creative activity and exploration of the world. Development Matters informs the science approach, while Little Wandle Foundations for Phonics brings attention to conversation and language sounds during the nursery years.

Morning activities include worship and singing, phonics and COOL time, followed by a snack and playtime with the wider school. A teacher-led maths activity and Number Blocks Maths give number learning their own slots. Afternoon focuses change with the day, covering physical development, creative work or understanding the world, with further time for children’s choices. Story time closes the learning day. The balance matters: adult direction has a place, but so does pursuing an interest.

Practical exploration extends indoors and outside. Children sort and weigh objects, compare measurements and count through play. Poems with actions or clapping provide another route into language; The Enormous Turnip is among the stories children retell. Early years design work includes joining materials, choosing tools and explaining how a creation was made.

In April and May 2024, staff’s conversations with children extended vocabulary exceptionally well, and children retained and used new words. The outdoor learning area combined number learning with physical activity through basketball hoops. Making healthy dishes together and tasting fruit prepared in different ways connected food choices with hands-on experience.

Two free settling sessions give children time to meet adults and other children before nursery begins. Families arrange these through the school office. This makes the first step a chance to become familiar with the people and provision before the regular booking starts.

The team includes qualified teachers with early years specialisms and teaching assistants with Level 3 qualifications. Nursery teaching responsibilities also include the special educational needs coordinator role, connecting classroom provision with SEND support. Half-termly class reading selections are shared with parents, giving families a link to the stories being explored.

A snack is scheduled in the morning, and a hot lunch is an option. Lunch occupies the midday hour. In April and May 2024, personal and social development supported children’s ability to learn independently, alongside the practical work on healthy eating.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through North Yorkshire Council’s online school admissions route, meeting the normal application deadline. Familiarity with the school should be treated separately from securing a place.

Preparation also happens through learning. In April and May 2024, early years children developed independence and could discuss what they had learnt, preparing them for their next stage. That educational preparation is separate from the admissions decision.

Morning nursery sessions run from 9am to noon; afternoons run from 1pm to 3pm, with lunch between noon and 1pm. The nursery timetable also includes an 8:45am start and 3:15pm home time. Agree the booked attendance times with the office before planning collection.

Eligible children can use up to 15 funded hours weekly, or the extended 30-hour entitlement, during term time. Full and part days can be combined subject to space, and the school asks for at least three sessions each week to maintain continuity. Extra sessions can be booked ahead and paid for in advance. Hot lunch and lunchtime supervision carry charges; ask the school for current charges.

Breakfast Club runs from 7:45am to 8:45am, and After School Club from 3:15pm to 5:30pm. Longer days. Use by the youngest children is agreed individually between home and school because it can lengthen their day considerably. Factor that discussion into childcare planning.

For nursery applications, contact the school office. Visits can also be arranged. Telephone 01765 677442 or email admin@markington.n-yorks.sch.uk.