Co-op Academy Brownhill Nursery Review

Picture books, songs and shared stories shaped Brownhill’s nursery learning in July 2023. This is nursery provision within Co-op Academy Brownhill, a primary school on Torre Drive in Leeds. The emphasis on listening and joining in gives children a way to participate before they can read independently.

Books were a tangible part of the nursery environment in July 2023. In July 2023, children had picture books around them and took part in singing, rhymes and storytelling. These activities helped them enjoy books and understand what they heard. For parents, this is a concrete picture of early learning: children listening, responding and becoming familiar with stories.

Adult guidance made a difference across the early years. Ofsted’s inspection on 3 and 4 July 2023 found that activities directed by staff supported learning well, with children able and eager to explain their work. One example involved an adult demonstrating ways to combine numbers to reach 10. That gives children something practical to work with and a chance to talk about their thinking.

Writing and independent activity. In July 2023, learning lost focus when children chose between activities themselves, and adults missed opportunities to extend writing. Some early years staff needed further expertise across the curriculum, including writing, to prepare children more fully for subsequent learning. This is a material consideration alongside the positive picture of shared books and adult guidance.

Support for additional needs follows a process of assessment, planning, action and review. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children’s early learning and development. Here, July 2023 examples included listening and understanding through stories, exploring numbers with adult guidance, and opportunities to develop writing that staff needed to use more fully. Children are assessed across the framework’s different learning areas. Concerns from families or staff go to the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENDCo), with significant or urgent concerns escalated rather than held back for a scheduled review. This gives parents a route into discussions about their child’s development.

For children receiving special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, a pupil passport brings together strengths, needs, targets, provision and family views. Passports are reviewed each term and shared with parents. The class teacher oversees day-to-day support, while the SENDCo advises colleagues and coordinates help. Families therefore have both a classroom contact and a route for discussing additional provision.

Communication can include interpreting or translation where needed. Speech and language professionals also work with the academy, with teachers and teaching assistants carrying out agreed support programmes. These arrangements connect specialist advice with the adults working with children.

Physical access and personal care deserve attention too. The academy has wheelchair access and a care suite. Where a child needs intimate care, plans are developed with relevant trained staff and the SENDCo, involving parents and health professionals where appropriate. That makes individual care needs part of planning alongside learning.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.

For children with SEND, transition support can include time with their next teacher in the next classroom during the preceding term. Extra visits may be arranged according to need. This is preparation for a change of class, separate from the allocation of a school place.

The academy’s address is Torre Drive, Leeds, LS9 7DH. Nursery enquiries can be directed to the school office on 0113 2489539 or by email to brow-office@coopacademies.co.uk. For a child joining with an identified additional need, the SEND team can be contacted at brow-send@coopacademies.co.uk.