Stoneferry Primary School Nursery Review

Stories, rhymes and independent play give Stoneferry’s nursery its character. Foundation 1 is the nursery provision within Stoneferry Primary School in Hull, with learning organised around children’s interests as well as planned themes. It is a school-based start, with its own morning and afternoon sessions.

Early years provision was graded Good at the Ofsted inspection of 18 to 19 October 2022. That judgement covers the school’s early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The early years curriculum was carefully ordered, and adults understood the learning children needed to develop.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines developing knowledge with opportunities to practise skills through play. Stoneferry uses thematic planning alongside interests that emerge from conversations and observation. Staff sometimes begin a theme with a knowledge harvest: finding out what children already understand before deciding what to explore next. This gives children’s questions a place in the planning.

Language has a clear purpose. In October 2022, adults selected words for children to learn and helped them try those words during play they chose themselves. Stories and nursery rhymes supported this work. Children also combined a rhyme performance with percussion, showing sustained attention. Music became a way to practise language and concentration together.

Indoor learning spaces and outdoor areas supported children in becoming more independent in October 2022. Creative activities combine children’s own choices with tasks guided by adults. Exploring textures, experimenting with colour and learning to handle simple tools give children different ways to express an idea. The emphasis is on doing and exploring, alongside developing skills in reading, writing, phonics and mathematics.

Support begins with an assessment of each child’s existing skills when they join. Previous learning contributes where appropriate, and teachers continue checking progress. For families with concerns about communication, social development or learning, this creates an opportunity to discuss needs early.

Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher, while the school’s special educational needs coordinator oversees SEND provision. Support follows an assess, plan, do, review cycle, with formal reviews each term. Parents contribute to decisions and receive the support plan, making the intended next steps clear. The nursery’s Foundation 1 practitioner has a Level 6 qualification, and the wider early years team includes higher level teaching assistants and achievement support assistants.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Hull City Council’s normal admissions process and meet its timetable.

For 2026/27 entry, nursery attendance is not an oversubscription criterion. For 2027/28 entry, attending the school-based nursery for at least two terms confers priority as the fifth criterion, below the staff-child criterion and above geographical proximity. This is conditional priority, not a reserved place.

Transition support is separate from allocation. For vulnerable children, support between classes can include extra visits, social stories, transition books, communication passports or meetings. These measures help prepare a child for change; they do not determine admission.

Morning nursery sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoon sessions run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Each has a distinct finish time, so families need to plan collection around their nursery session.

For nursery enquiries, telephone 01482 838968 or email admin@stoneferry.hull.sch.uk. The nursery is at Stoneferry Primary School on Stoneferry Road, Hull.