The Croft Nursery at Tranby

A hobbit house for reading, a mud kitchen for making and woodland for exploring give The Croft’s preschool day its character. This is Tranby’s nursery provision in Anlaby, Hull, with entry from the term in which a child turns three. Some children therefore start aged two. Qualified teachers work alongside nursery nurses, bringing both teaching and care into the day.

The Croft sits within the school’s early years provision. Its blend of adult-guided learning and children’s own play makes it a choice for families who want nursery exploration alongside an introduction to classroom routines.

Play and teaching share the timetable. Children choose activities, while adults guide work with numbers, early reading and phonics. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning and development: here, that means conversation, movement, cooperation and practical exploration alongside those early academic skills.

Daily Dough Disco uses music and playdough to exercise fingers and hands, giving children practice in the control needed for writing. Cookery brings counting, measuring and following instructions into something tangible. Yoga takes place weekly. These activities give learning different forms, rather than keeping it at a table. Nursery classrooms also have interactive whiteboards.

Outside, children can construct, balance and investigate. Sand and water areas sit alongside tunnels, tracks and an allotment where children grow fruit and vegetables. There is also a pond viewing area and a fire pit amphitheatre. Outdoor play continues whatever the weather, so the grounds are part of the learning day rather than an occasional extra.

Preschool children make regular visits to the on-site Forest School. Shelter building and looking for seasonal changes create reasons to talk, solve problems and work together. In October 2023, ISI found that early years children progressed well from their individual starting points, with activities adapted to their needs. Adult questioning supported language development, while outdoor activities encouraged imaginative thinking.

Each child’s key worker takes the main pastoral role, with other staff providing further support. That gives families an identified adult within the wider team. Parents can raise worries through the confidential Need to Know form, and a separate anonymous route is available for safeguarding concerns.

Food is cooked each day on site by Lexington Independent. Foundation stage children receive a simplified main menu, and menus cater for dietary and cultural requirements. The nursery’s lunch arrangement includes healthy snacks; afternoon tea comes with the full-day session. Food charges should be considered alongside the hours booked.

In October 2023, early years care met children’s needs effectively, with appropriate safeguarding arrangements and a designated safeguarding lead for that phase. Staff received paediatric first-aid training. The inspection also identified inaccurate information in the school’s safeguarding policy, corrected during the visit, and recommended regular checks to keep it accurate. That administrative concern sits alongside the positive findings about early years care.

Attending The Croft does not guarantee a Reception place. Families should confirm Reception application arrangements with the school; nursery attendance should not be treated as an offer for the next stage.

Keep familiarity with school routines separate from securing admission. Children’s experience of guided activities and classroom rhythms may make the next stage feel familiar, but familiarity does not secure admission.

Families can choose Tranby term-time attendance or an all-year arrangement. Paid sessions run from 08:00 to 17:30 for a full day, 08:30 to 15:30 for a short day, and 08:30 to 12:30 for a morning. Breakfast adds 07:30 to 08:00; late stay runs from 17:30 to 18:00 Monday to Thursday. Friday closing is 17:30.

Funding limits. Up to 15 funded hours apply in term time, for up to 38 weeks annually, from the term after a child turns three. Eligible working parents can also apply for 15 funded hours for a two-year-old. Tranby does not participate in the government’s 30-hour programme. Funded time is restricted to 08:30 to 15:30, with a maximum of seven hours daily, so longer days require paid hours.

Breakfast, lunch and late stay have separate charges; ask the school for current charges. The Croft recommends at least three mornings or two full days per week for Explorers, children turning three between September and August. For Adventurers, children turning four during that period, it recommends at least five mornings or three full days per week. These are attendance recommendations. Tours can be booked, and nursery enquiries go to enquiries@tranby.org.uk or 01482 657016.