Lillington Primary School Nursery Review

Dough Disco, a book of the week and a garden shared with older children give Lillington’s nursery day its character. This is the school’s own provision for children aged two to four, continuing to the end of their pre-school year, on Cubbington Road in Leamington Spa.

A separate snack space sits alongside the roomy classroom, with a large garden outside. Children can choose between indoor and outdoor play rather than spending the whole session in one room. In October 2023, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good; that judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Each session starts with half an hour for registration, welcome activities and settling. Children put their photograph on the registration board, recognise and practise their name, count their friends and discuss the weather and date. Dough Disco or Squiggle While You Wiggle brings movement into early writing activities.

Two group gatherings give the session its structure. Early phonics and personal development feature at the beginning; later, children return to their book of the week and explore maths and phonics linked to their interests. Between these gatherings, they choose their play indoors or outside. Resources can move around the nursery with them, allowing an idea to develop across different play areas.

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework guides reading here. For parents, that means stories explored through pretend play, miniature play scenes, rhyme and joining in with familiar phrases. Talk for Writing adds an emphasis on expressing ideas aloud before writing. Book Nooks hold small, changing selections that children can choose independently, with books selected around their interests and learning themes.

In October 2023, early language and communication received substantial attention, and adults matched activities to children’s learning needs. This gives the play a clear educational purpose. There was also a school-wide concern about reading catch-up: inconsistent approaches meant some pupils progressed too slowly. Since phonics begins in nursery, the consistency of early reading support is a useful topic for parent discussions.

A familiar comfort object, such as a blanket or soft toy, can accompany a child during the first days or weeks. Staff agree with parents when it can stay at home. They telephone if needed and also call with news once a child has settled, giving families reassurance beyond the goodbye.

Daily conversations are supplemented by a meeting each term to discuss progress and explore the learning journal. Parents can contribute to that journal, while Notes from home slips in the cloakrooms provide a simple way to share experiences outside nursery. Termly nursery events let children show their families what they have been learning.

For children staying through lunch, families choose a packed lunch or order a cooked meal through ParentPay. Lunch runs from 11:45 to 12:30. Packed food must exclude nuts. Bring nappies and wipes where appropriate, alongside spare clothes and a water bottle.

The school aims to identify SEND early and adapt learning to individual needs. Parents can contact the SEND team to discuss concerns. Regular attendance also matters: in October 2023, excessive absence remained a school-wide concern because children were missing learning.

Attending Lillington’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate school application through Warwickshire County Council; nursery enrolment does not replace that process. Applications are considered against admission criteria, and late applications follow those submitted on time.

The shared garden offers everyday familiarity with Reception children for part of the day. That is a practical connection between the age groups, separate from the allocation of school places.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45, and afternoons from 12:30 to 15:30, Monday to Friday. The 30-hour pattern is 08:45 to 15:30 Monday to Thursday, followed by Friday morning. The two-year-old nursery opens for afternoons; families eligible for 30 funded hours for a two-year-old should discuss that arrangement with nursery administration.

The nursery accepts 15 funded hours for three- and four-year-olds, with 30 funded hours available through an extended funding code. Families without that eligibility can pay for additional sessions. From September 2026, 30-hour funded places also extend to two-year-olds. Extra unfunded sessions require advance booking and payment through ParentPay. Ask the school for current charges.

Early Birds accepts nursery children attending mornings or full-time sessions, with advance booking required and a nursery charge. Uniform is optional. For availability and enquiries, email nurseryadmin@lillingtonprimary.com or telephone 01926 425114.