Tweendykes School Nursery Review

Little Stars gave Tweendykes’ early years children a setting alongside younger primary pupils in June 2022. This site shared its location with another primary school, placing the youngest children within a wider educational setting.

The nursery belongs to a specialist school whose starting age is three. Tweendykes caters for children with severe learning difficulties; its pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). For families, the central consideration is how the provision matches their child’s individual needs. This is a specialist placement decision.

Personalised learning is the school’s stated approach: support should match the pupil and be provided when needed. For a nursery child, that makes the relationship between learning activities and individual support a useful focus when considering the provision.

The wider school timetable provides a practical reference for the day. Teaching begins at 9.00am, with a break between 10.30am and 10.45am. A further teaching period runs until 12.15pm, followed by lunch and breaks until 1.15pm. Afternoon teaching ends at 3.15pm. These are school hours, rather than a nursery session booking pattern.

That structure separates teaching periods from time for lunch and breaks. Families should distinguish the school’s daily rhythm from the arrangements attached to their child’s nursery placement.

Parents’ understanding of their child’s disability is explicitly valued by the school, including its effect on everyday activities. That gives conversations about care a clear starting point: what the child needs in daily life, as well as in learning.

Support involves class teachers, teaching assistants and the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO). Teachers work with the SENCO and assistants through a cycle of assessing needs, planning support, putting it into practice and reviewing it. Parents can discuss their child’s needs with either the class teacher or SENCO, giving families identifiable roles to approach.

An EHCP is reviewed annually. Parents also take part in developing and reviewing support plans when special educational provision is being made. The practical implication is an ongoing conversation about support, rather than a decision made only at entry.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Treat the next placement as a separate admissions question, rather than assuming that time in the nursery settles it.

At Tweendykes, admissions are controlled by the local authority. Applications are considered by the authority, which agrees suitable placements with the school. For families considering the next stage, this specialist placement route matters: nursery attendance should not be treated as confirmation of the later placement.

For enquiries about the provision, contact the school team. Kingston Upon Hull’s local authority can be contacted about admissions on 01482 331627.

Entry usually takes place in September, although children may also be admitted during the academic year. This allows for placements outside the usual annual starting point. Families whose application for a school place is unsuccessful have an appeal route.