Nursery at Narborough Church of England Primary Academy

First letter sounds provided a starting point for nursery learning in November 2024, preparing children for later phonics teaching. Across early years, children also drew chalk number tracks to explore numbers. The nursery opened in January 2024 within Narborough Church of England Primary Academy. It is school-based provision, with early learning taking place within a primary school setting.

The academy belongs to the Education and Academies Trust of the Diocese of Norwich and forms part of the Nar Valley Federation. Leadership and some subject responsibilities are shared across the federation’s three schools. That is the organisational context for the nursery, rather than a separate nursery organisation.

In November 2024, early-years learning concentrated on foundational skills, with children introduced to letter sounds in Nursery and given repeated teaching of basic number knowledge. The emphasis was on securing those starting points before building further. For parents, this gives a concrete sense of the learning priorities: recognising sounds and developing an understanding of numbers.

Chalk supplied one practical example. Children made number tracks themselves, using the activity to develop their early mathematical understanding. Numbers were something to draw and explore, rather than simply encounter as an adult’s explanation. The activity connected a task children wanted to do with a specific learning purpose.

The early-years curriculum also included activities intended to develop learning beyond the initial teaching of key skills. Taken together, the sound work, number teaching and chalk activity show how focused instruction and children’s participation could work alongside each other. These are examples of the learning approach, rather than a timetable for every nursery session.

Extra teaching help was available in November 2024 for children who had not yet grasped the foundational skills being taught. Support therefore connected directly to the early-years learning priorities, rather than leaving children to move on with gaps in their understanding.

For a parent, the useful distinction is between introducing a skill and helping a child secure it. The early-years approach included both: initial teaching of sounds and numbers, followed by additional help where a child needed it.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions.

The nursery’s introduction to letter sounds was intended to prepare children for later phonics teaching. That is preparation through learning, rather than an admissions entitlement. It gives families a concrete example of continuity in the curriculum while leaving the Reception application as a separate step.

The nursery’s school address is Denny's Walk, Narborough, King's Lynn, PE32 1TA. The school telephone number is 01760338048. These provide the location and a direct contact point for families considering the provision.