Denby Dale First and Nursery School Nursery Review

Messy craft, woodland activities and a quiet place to rest give Denby Dale’s youngest children different ways to spend their day. The school’s daycare and nursery provision caters for ages 2–5, with separate spaces described for the 2–3 and 3–4 age groups. It sits within Denby Dale First and Nursery School on Gilthwaites Lane.

Younger children have a purpose-built room; older nursery children can choose between their classroom, craft space and outdoor play. This is provision with room for both activity and downtime. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 15 and 16 November 2023, a judgement covering early years within the school.

Play shapes the learning. For children aged 3–4, staff plan activities around individual interests and the next steps in each child’s development. Children choose where to play, moving between the main classroom, messy craft space and outdoors. That choice gives them opportunities to practise independence rather than follow one activity together throughout the session.

For the younger group, two outdoor areas extend the purpose-built room. Children can play inside or outside during the day, with planned activities also using the school grounds and woodland. Staff watch what children can already do and use those observations to build their learning. Sports day, World Book Day and community trips bring experiences beyond the room.

The early years foundation stage here involves developing language, first reading skills and early mathematical understanding through activities and adult interaction. Ofsted’s November 2023 findings describe early years teaching focused on language, first reading skills and mathematics, with additional help when children fell behind. One activity involved testing the distance a toy car travelled after rolling down a section of drainpipe: a concrete way to explore movement and compare results.

Artis provides a weekly drama opportunity for nursery children. Legacy sports sessions and Grow to School activities add further experiences to the play-based day.

Rest has a place in the younger children’s room, with a calm area alongside the open space used for activities and eating. Children need not spend the whole day in the busiest part of the room. In November 2023, early years staff interacted calmly and warmly with children, while parents could take part in workshops and events.

Daily milk is free for nursery children until the Friday preceding their fifth birthday. For children using funding across the day in the 3–4 nursery, meals carry an extra charge. Families should obtain current charges from the school when arranging their sessions.

The nursery manager also holds a deputy designated safeguarding role. For concerns about additional needs, the school’s support route begins with the class teacher, followed by a joint meeting with the SENCO. Depending on the child’s needs, work with parents may involve Speech and Language Therapists or the Complex Communication and Interaction team. This provides a route for discussing support at school and at home.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their application year. Kirklees Council manages the school’s admissions and appeals; use the council’s application route for Reception.

Care spans 7:30am to 6pm across the year. The 3–4 nursery offers morning, afternoon and across-the-day sessions, giving families different ways to use funded hours. Its offer includes 15 funded hours for children over three and 30 for eligible families; eligible families of 2–3-year-olds can access 15-hour places.

Uniform is optional for nursery children. To arrange a show round, use the daycare and nursery enquiry form, email office@denbydale.education or call 01484 866071. A visit offers families a chance to meet the team and see the spaces their child would use.