Barwick-in-Elmet Nursery Review

Sound games, child-chosen play and weekly Forest Schools sessions give Barwick-in-Elmet’s nursery its character. This is the nursery within Barwick-in-Elmet CofE Primary School and Nursery on Chapel Lane in Leeds, with an early years curriculum that combines adult teaching with time for children to pursue their interests.

Christian values shape the setting’s aims. Love, respect and peace are its guiding values, and the school aims to welcome children as individuals. For parents, that places the nursery’s approach to relationships alongside its approach to learning.

Play and teaching share the day. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about language, movement and relationships with early maths, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. Across the week, children have teaching in topics, maths, literacy and phonics, adapted to their developmental stage. They also return to resources and activities independently, giving them opportunities to practise what they have learned through play.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds is used from Nursery. Here, early phonics involves rhymes, songs and games with sounds, concentrating on listening and speaking before reading words. Phonics takes place daily, with nursery sessions becoming longer over time. Talk 4 Writing also shapes literacy teaching: children learn a model story, then adapt it with adult help. These approaches give language practice a recognisable structure.

Inside, defined activity areas let children choose their own resources. Outdoors, weekly Forest Schools sessions provide opportunities for exploration, physical activity and working together. The school aims to develop children’s judgement about risk and their ability to solve problems through this forest learning.

Adults join children’s play, introduce vocabulary and add challenges linked to their interests. Early years art includes experimenting with tools and materials; design activities involve construction, making and talking about the result. That gives children reasons to explain their choices as well as use their hands.

Settling-in sessions support children starting early years, alongside visits to their previous preschool settings. Stay-and-play sessions and family workshops offer further ways for parents to participate, including support with maths, literacy and phonics.

Class Dojo and everyday conversations connect home and nursery. These provide opportunities to exchange updates and discuss children’s learning, rather than leaving communication to formal meetings alone.

In September 2025, the staffing structure combined the nursery teacher role with early years leadership and designated safeguarding responsibilities. Early years teaching assistant roles also formed part of the team. Families with questions about special educational needs or disabilities can contact the SEND coordinator or their child’s class teacher through the school office, giving them a direct route to discuss support.

For school meals, parents can select their child’s meal through the appetite app.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through their home local authority’s normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. Choosing this nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself, with the later school application treated separately.

Nursery children walk to their classroom with their parents. Families should tell staff beforehand if someone different will collect their child, so a change of routine is communicated before collection.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office at office@barwickprimary.co.uk or telephone 0113 281 2132. The school’s address is Chapel Lane, Barwick-in-Elmet, Leeds, LS15 4HL.