Silsden Primary School Nursery

Teacher-led learning and a school-length day give Silsden’s nursery its character. Based at Silsden Primary School on Hawber Cote Lane, it takes children from the September following their third birthday, for the year before Reception. There are up to 39 children in a session, with provision running on weekdays during term time.

Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its March 2022 inspection. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Play has a planned framework here. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical skills and emotional development with early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. Silsden uses Development Matters alongside its own EYFS Curriculum Goals and EYFS Skills Progression Map, giving staff a structure for planning children’s next steps.

Children’s interests also influence the activities and resources chosen. Themes organise learning across the year, with opportunities such as local walks and visiting contributors extending what children explore. Indoor and outdoor areas both form part of the learning environment. The approach makes room for children’s choices alongside planned teaching.

In March 2022, children were developing independence, choosing activities and enjoying phonics and stories. Adults regularly shared books with them. Language development. Indoor and outdoor activities were insufficiently connected, and vocabulary displays did too little to help children use new words. Staff needed to build more purposeful conversation into activities across both spaces. For families, the useful focus is how adults extend children’s talk during play.

For children staying all day, lunch can be brought from home or purchased as a school meal. Lunchtime supervision carries an additional charge. The nursery menu includes cheese and tomato pizza and a tuna wrap, giving concrete examples of the meals children may encounter.

Communication uses Arbor for school messages and Class Dojo for contact with teachers. Half-term class newsletters explain forthcoming learning and related activities for home. In March 2022, early years parents received guidance on supporting phonics and writing, helping them connect home activities with classroom learning.

Families raising concerns about additional needs should speak first to the class teacher. The school’s SEND policy uses Pupil Passports to record children’s strengths, needs and support, with termly parent meetings for children on the SEN register. Its inclusion team includes two SEND coordinators, a Welfare Inclusion Coordinator, a Play Therapist and a Mental Health Champion. These provide identifiable routes for discussing learning and emotional needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. A fresh application goes through the local authority where the child lives; Bradford residents use its online admissions system. For September 2027 entry, the school gives a provisional deadline of mid-January 2027, with the precise date awaiting confirmation.

The Bradford admission arrangements for 2026/27 give no priority for nursery attendance. Keep that admissions question separate from preparation for starting school: children whose families have accepted a place are invited to Transition Days, while parent information evenings explain the next stage. Children can become familiar with their future classroom and teachers after a place has been accepted.

The full-day timetable is 8:45am to 3:20pm. For September 2027, the four options comprise eligible families’ funded 30-hour provision, a 30-hour arrangement combining 15 funded hours with paid additional hours, and two 15-hour patterns. Those shorter patterns cover Monday and Tuesday plus Wednesday morning until 11:45am, or Wednesday afternoon from 12:20pm plus Thursday and Friday.

The nursery describes 15-hour funding from the term following a child’s third birthday. Accessing the funded 30-hour option requires HMRC eligibility and an eligibility code supplied by parents. Ask the school for current charges for additional hours, meals and lunchtime supervision.

Fixed sessions. The 2026/27 nursery terms prevent swapping sessions within a week. Requests to change the pattern must be written to the office and depend on space, taking effect at the next half-term. This matters if working hours vary.

Silsden Sprouts provides charged care before and after nursery, starting at 7:30am and closing at 6pm, based in the School Hall. For enquiries or an arranged visit, contact the school on 01535 653290 or email office@silsden.bradford.sch.uk.