Little Otters Nursery at Bradwell CofE Infant School

Space, time and choice shape the learning approach at Little Otters, Bradwell CofE (Controlled) Infant School & Nursery’s provision for children aged two to four. Continuous Provision begins in Nursery: children have opportunities to apply their skills rather than learning only through adult-directed tasks. That gives the provision its clearest educational character.

Little Otters sits within the school on Church Street in Bradwell, Hope Valley. For the 2025/2026 academic year, the school recorded 20 nursery children. That is a dated enrolment figure, rather than a statement of how many places can be booked.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the curriculum framework. Its areas bring together language, physical development and social confidence with early literacy, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. For parents, the emphasis is on children developing several connected skills, rather than treating learning as separate school subjects.

Continuous Provision is the named approach that explicitly begins in Nursery. Time and choice allow children to practise what they have learned and pursue activities with some independence. The approach also continues elsewhere in the school, providing continuity in how learning is organised.

Ofsted’s inspection on 15 and 16 May 2024 judged the school’s early years provision Good and described activities planned around children’s interests, alongside independence, curiosity and children celebrating one another’s successes. These are findings about the school’s early years, rather than a separate nursery judgement. They point to learning that involves both adult planning and children taking an active part.

Little Otters has a nursery staff team. The school’s SEND arrangements focus on recognising support needs early, introducing interventions promptly and reviewing them regularly. Its objectives include working with parents and involving external agencies where appropriate, giving families a role in discussions about their child’s participation and learning.

Safeguarding procedures include staff training, checks on regular volunteers and staff, and CPOMS for recording and monitoring concerns. Early Help can involve families in an assessment and a plan for additional support. This gives parents a route into coordinated help when family circumstances require it.

Meals extend to the youngest children. The Autumn and Winter 2025 school menu included nursery pupils, so school meals formed part of the nursery’s provision in that period.

Attending Little Otters does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through Derbyshire’s admissions route and meet the deadline for their entry year.

The criteria on the school’s admissions page do not include nursery attendance. They cover children in care or previously in care, home area, siblings and, for voluntary controlled church schools, religious grounds. Families should therefore keep the nursery decision separate from the Reception application.

Three session patterns are listed: mornings from 9am to noon, afternoons from noon to 3pm, and a full day from 9am to 3pm. Drop-off and collection use the main playground. Parents are asked to telephone if delayed and keep emergency contact details updated.

The school describes universal hours, funding for eligible two-year-olds and an extended entitlement. Confirm current eligibility and charges with the school before booking. For enquiries, telephone 01433 620409 or email info@bradwell-inf.derbyshire.sch.uk; paper copies of policies can also be requested from the office.