Endsleigh Holy Child VC Academy Nursery Review

Play shaped around children’s interests gives this Catholic nursery its character. At Endsleigh Holy Child VC Academy in Hull, the nursery takes children aged 3 and 4 and forms part of the school’s Foundation Stage provision. Its aim is to build independence, curiosity and confidence through practical learning, with Catholic values guiding its approach to each child.

Children’s interests guide activity planning, with an emphasis on practical experiences. The curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), bringing early learning and development together through play. Nursery activities include music and expressive arts, science, early number work and literacy. That gives children different ways to explore an idea: making, experimenting and expressing themselves, as well as developing the foundations for reading and mathematics.

Outdoor learning is part of that mix. Children have room outside for climbing, running and play, giving physical activity a place alongside the quieter learning experiences. The nursery aims to use these opportunities to develop confidence and resilience. Movement matters here as well as early academic learning.

In May 2022, Ofsted identified curriculum planning that began in early years and a mastery approach to mathematics starting at that stage. Early history learning explored people’s important jobs and their capacity to bring about change. These are concrete examples of the foundations being laid: understanding number and thinking about the roles people have in the world around them.

Getting to know each child is part of the nursery’s approach to care. Staff support emotional development alongside learning, and the nursery describes its team as qualified and experienced. Partnership with parents and carers includes recognising children’s progress and celebrating milestones together. For families, that places personal development alongside what a child can count, make or recognise.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school aims to involve both children and their families in decisions about their support. Parents are intended to take an active part in planning provision. This makes their knowledge of their child relevant to the support being discussed, rather than leaving planning solely to staff.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process; the application route is Hull City Council’s primary school admissions service. Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as two separate decisions. Familiarity with the school does not remove the need to apply again or meet the applicable deadline.

The EYFS morning session runs from 08:40 to 11:40, with the afternoon running from 12:30 to 15:30. Those session boundaries matter when planning the working day and collection arrangements.

Parents and carers supervise early years children at the EYFS gates until staff bring them into class after the bell. Late or mid-session entry is through the office at the main entrance. Tell the teacher or office if a different person will collect your child; unfamiliar collectors are challenged. Early collection requires signing out at the office, with signing back in if the child returns during the session.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office on 01482 853203 or by email to admin@ehchull.org. The school is on Inglemire Avenue, Hull, HU6 7TE.