Grange Farm Primary School Nursery Review

Story time with milk and a bagel, finger-strength games and time in the school forest give Grange Farm’s nursery day its character. This is Foundation 1, the school’s nursery provision in Seacroft, Leeds. Children can join from the term after their third birthday. The emphasis is on practical exploration and getting to know each child through their family.

Morning and afternoon sessions provide distinct starting points for the day. Class teachers work alongside support staff, and every child has an allocated key worker. That gives families an identified adult within the nursery team, while children take part in activities with their key worker group.

Choice and shared routines sit alongside each other. Children can move between classroom activities and outdoor provision during free-flow time, then come together for a story, a snack and group activities. Tidying up also forms part of the session. The pattern gives children opportunities to choose what interests them and to participate with others.

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the early-years curriculum prioritises speaking, language development and reading. Nursery preparation for reading starts with sound play, rhymes and stories. In March 2022, Ofsted identified early-years activities that encouraged curiosity and imagination, including making houses for the Three Little Pigs from different materials. A familiar story becomes something children can investigate and build.

Small movements get deliberate attention. Dough disco, threading, pegs and tweezers are used to strengthen fingers. Painting and water play bring further hands-on exploration, with aprons encouraged for messy activities.

Outdoor learning extends into both the nursery’s own outside space and the school forest. Families are encouraged to send wellington boots and an old coat, so clothing can accommodate muddy exploration. Indoors, the self-service lending library lets a child and parent choose a book together, take it home in a library bag and exchange it after reading. Families sign books out and return them in good condition. Reading can continue beyond the session.

Parents’ knowledge of their child informs the nursery’s approach. The team works with families to understand individual interests, personalities and needs, an especially useful starting point when nursery is a new experience. The allocated key worker provides a named role for that relationship, and key worker group activities bring it into the day.

Milk accompanies story time, with fruit or bagel for the snack. For wider family communication, the Grange Farm Grapevine is emailed on Fridays and can also be collected from the office. Families needing help with special educational needs can contact the school’s SENCo through the office; parent support advisers are also part of the support structure.

Safeguarding concerns have a direct contact route. Families can arrange an appointment with the safeguarding team by telephone or email, while urgent concerns should be raised immediately by phone.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority’s school admissions process, meeting the deadline for their application cycle. The local authority allocates Reception places. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.

Transition support is a different matter. Nursery and Reception staff collaborate to help children become familiar with the main school before starting. Parents are invited to meet the Reception teachers shortly before the children begin. This supports familiarity with people and surroundings; it does not secure admission.

The morning session runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; the afternoon runs from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. Families can request 15 hours through Universal Funding, or 30 hours where they qualify for the Extended Funding Entitlement.

To request a place, complete the nursery page’s form with the child’s name, birth date and address, your contact details and the hours requested. Requests enter a waiting list. The team contacts families nearer the admission date if a place is available.

The office provides a nursery information booklet and can arrange a visit. Contact 0113 2930 120 or admin.manager@grangefarm.leeds.sch.uk. This gives families a practical starting point for seeing the provision and making an enquiry.