Nursery at Stoney Middleton CofE (C) Primary School

Play indoors, exploration outside and learning alongside children from other federation schools give this nursery its character. Nursery entry begins in the term following a child's third birthday. Based at Stoney Middleton CofE (C) Primary School on High Street, the nursery is part of the Woodland Federation.

The federation connection has a practical effect on early learning. On Mondays and Fridays, Together Days bring the early years children and younger primary pupils to a shared site. Children travel between sites in a federation minibus driven by staff. That makes the nursery experience wider than its home school alone.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines play chosen by children with activities guided by adults. Both indoor and outdoor spaces support that balance. Children have room to explore and create, while adults demonstrate language and ask questions to extend vocabulary. Planning follows each child's developmental stage, with progress tracked in small steps so staff can identify learning gaps and respond.

Woodland Learning adds a distinct outdoor strand. Weekly sessions use nearby woods, with activities tailored to early years children and planned by a qualified Forest Schools Practitioner. An adult introduces the activity, then children have time for discovery or making. The intended learning includes teamwork, independence and understanding seasonal changes, giving outdoor exploration a purpose beyond fresh air.

Books also connect nursery and home. From nursery onwards, children choose a sharing book to take home and enjoy with a parent. This gives families something concrete to read and discuss together. The early years curriculum also uses stories within personal, social and emotional development, linking learning about feelings and relationships to the federation's wider themes.

Contact with families has several routes: Class Dojo, email, telephone and conversations in person. Parent consultations provide another opportunity to discuss a child's needs. For families needing additional help, an Early Help Assessment can involve a designated safeguarding lead or a Family Support Worker through the partnership with Lady Manners School.

SEND support follows Assess, Plan, Do, Review: identify the need, agree support, put it into practice and review progress. Teaching can be adapted through different materials, changes to activities or individual and small-group support. External specialists may contribute with parents involved. These are federation arrangements, providing a framework for discussing a nursery child's individual needs.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal school admissions process. Nursery applications go directly to the school using a nursery admission form; applications for a school place follow Derbyshire County Council's process, with allocation handled by the local authority. Treat these as two separate decisions when planning your child's next stage.

To enquire about nursery entry or arrange a visit, contact the school office on 01433 630520 or email info@stoneymiddleton.derbyshire.sch.uk. The nursery application requires its own admission form.

Collection arrangements. The later wraparound provision runs until 6pm at Great Hucklow CE Primary School. Children using it travel there by minibus, and parents collect from that site. On Together Days, breakfast and after-school clubs can be attended at Great Hucklow or Peak Forest. These arrangements make the collection location part of the family's daily planning; bookings go through the school office. Contact the school for current charges.