Puddleducks Nursery at Kimbolton Primary Academy

Nursery rhymes, careful listening and joining in with stories give Puddleducks a clear starting point: learning to notice sounds before learning to read words. This is Kimbolton Primary Academy’s own nursery provision, at Newtown in Kimbolton. The school’s age range begins at two, placing nursery education within the same setting as the primary years.

Early reading starts with the ear. At the November 2021 inspection, nursery children practised telling sounds apart, learnt rhymes and participated in storytelling through familiar refrains. These are foundations for phonics: children first learn to hear differences, listen attentively and recognise patterns in spoken language.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) gives learning a broader shape than reading alone. Communication, physical development and personal and social development sit alongside mathematics, English, creative expression and understanding the world. For parents, that means early education encompasses how children talk, move, relate to others and explore, as well as their first encounters with numbers and books.

Early mathematics includes comparing quantities and noticing patterns. For younger children, the learning goals include number rhymes, building and inset puzzles; for three- and four-year-olds, they include recognising small quantities, matching amounts to numerals and describing shapes. Practical objects give these ideas something children can handle and discuss, rather than leaving number learning as an abstract exercise.

Outdoor learning has also brought nursery children together with older children. In September 2021, Puddleducks joined Ash Class for forest school sessions. That is a concrete example of nursery activity extending beyond its own group, with shared learning alongside other children at the academy.

Communication about a child’s welfare has a clear framework across the academy. Staff must pass on concerns about possible harm, and the school generally seeks to discuss concerns with parents, including referrals to other agencies. Where a child may be at risk, advice can be sought before parents are informed. Information sharing is restricted to what is necessary and proportionate, giving families a clear explanation of how sensitive concerns are handled.

For questions or concerns, the school office is the contact point. The academy also has a SENCO, providing a role for families to approach about special educational needs.

Attending Puddleducks does not guarantee a Reception place at Kimbolton Primary Academy. Nursery entry and Reception entry are separate processes: families must make a fresh Reception application through the normal admissions route by its deadline. Treat the nursery decision as a choice about your child’s early education, and plan the later application separately.

The academy is at Newtown, Kimbolton, Huntingdon, PE28 0HY. Contact the school office on 01480 860743 or email office@kimboltonprimaryacademy.cambs.sch.uk. Office hours run from 8:30am to 3:30pm, so families have a defined daytime contact window for enquiries and concerns.