Collingwood Primary School Nursery

Outdoor model-making and rehearsals for a theatre stage give Collingwood's nursery a distinctive combination of hands-on play and performance. Children build with loose parts outdoors, while weekly song-and-dance practice leads to Christmas and summer shows at NAPA, the Northern Academy of Performing Arts. Creative work has a public moment as well as a place in everyday play.

The nursery belongs to Collingwood Primary School on Collingwood Street in Hull. At the Ofsted inspection on 7 and 8 February 2024, early years provision received a Good judgement. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separate nursery inspection.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines activities chosen by children with teaching led by adults. Staff observe children's learning and use those observations to decide what to teach next, both during play and in organised activities. New topics begin each half term with experiences intended to spark interest. Children's own interests also help shape learning challenges.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised provides the approach to early reading. In nursery, the emphasis is on foundations for phonics through adult-led and child-led experiences involving language and literacy. This gives speaking and listening a clear place alongside preparation for later reading.

Number work is equally concrete. White Rose is the school's maths approach; in Foundation Stage 1, children concentrate on numbers from 1 to 5, count objects up to 5 and recognise small groups of up to 3 without counting each item. They compare quantities and explore flat and solid shapes through practical activities. The focus is on understanding what numbers mean.

The craft and construction area gives children opportunities to make models and experiment with joining materials. Outdoors, loose parts allow them to work on a larger scale. In the creative area, boxes, feathers, sticks and lids become materials for pictures and models; play dough introduces rolling, flattening and pinching. These are specific opportunities to practise handling materials and making choices.

Nature walks and practical investigations bring observation into the day. Children notice changes around them, ask questions and discuss what they discover. Music adds another way to participate: nursery rhymes are revisited, songs practised and percussion instruments explored during adult-led sessions and play.

In February 2024, relationships with families helped children settle, and nursery children became familiar with routines quickly. Reading workshops and coffee mornings gave parents opportunities to build relationships with the school. Settling was connected to trust between home and staff.

For additional needs, assessments take place when children enter Foundation Stage 1. Parents can raise concerns with their child's teacher or arrange to speak with the SENCo through the office. Where further assessment is needed, external support can include IPASS, Northcott Outreach and the Speech and Language Therapy Service. This provides a route from an initial concern to more specialist advice.

Food allergies and intolerances should be discussed with office staff, who pass information to relevant colleagues and the school cook. Parents can also arrange a discussion with the cook about individual dietary needs. This is a school-wide arrangement.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process. Hull City Council coordinates applications for starting school and makes offers of places, so choosing the nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions.

In February 2024, nursery children made the move to Reception successfully. That is a finding about children's transition, not an entitlement to admission.

Contact the school office on 01482 331914 for nursery enquiries or to arrange an appointment with a member of staff. Collingwood's address is Collingwood Street, Hull, HU3 1AW. Parents with medical queries can also use the office as their contact point.