St George's CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Listening games, shared stories and a class spanning Nursery and Reception give St George's nursery its character. This is provision for three-year-olds within the primary school on Church Lane in New Mills, with morning and full-time options. The shared early years class places nursery children alongside the next stage of school life from the outset.

Early years provision was judged Good by Ofsted at the inspection on 7, 8 and 14 January 2025. That judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Books and conversation have a clear place in the day. Story sessions, reading together and discussions in groups form part of the daily early years routine. Adults read aloud expressively and talk with children about the texts, giving them opportunities to hear new words and explore what a story means.

Little Wandle supplies the phonics approach. Nursery children begin with Phase 1, using planned listening activities and learning to distinguish sounds. The emphasis here is on listening foundations before the next stage of phonics, rather than racing ahead to formal reading.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the curriculum: children build knowledge and skills alongside their personal, social and emotional development. Planning also makes room for their interests. Staff encourage children to discuss their learning, while a growth mindset approach emphasises trying challenges and reflecting on how they learn. For parents, that means the intended experience includes learning to persevere and explain ideas, as well as acquiring knowledge.

The wider school grounds include outdoor space for playtimes. Indoors, the school's classroom arrangements use neutral colours and display routines and expectations. These are school-wide features, providing context for the nursery's place within the school.

In January 2025, children in early years received attentive care, and nursery routines included learning to take turns. Those everyday habits matter: waiting and sharing are part of learning to participate in a group.

Within early years, the school aims to recognise additional support needs and involve specialists promptly when appropriate. Families also have access to the Derbyshire Local Offer, which covers early years support, assessments and local SEND services. This gives parents a route to information beyond the classroom.

Parents can speak with staff about emotional wellbeing concerns. The school's Early Help provision includes assessments and Team Around the Family meetings that may involve outside agencies where families need additional support. Safeguarding responsibilities extend across staff, governors and volunteers, with training and induction forming part of those arrangements.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, directly to Derbyshire Local Authority.

Nursery and Reception children already share an early years class. That is a useful continuity of classroom experience, but it should be kept separate from the application for a school place.

Both nursery options begin at 8:45am. The part-time morning ends at 11:45am; full-time provision finishes at 3:15pm. The shorter option covers the morning, while the longer one extends into the afternoon, giving families two distinct patterns to consider.

For nursery enquiries, contact info@st-georgescofe.derbyshire.sch.uk or telephone 01663 743222. School visits can be arranged by appointment, giving prospective parents an opportunity to see the setting before applying.