Kippax Ash Tree Primary School Nursery

Weekly Forest School and colour mixing in the Atelier give Kippax Ash Tree’s nursery a character beyond the classroom. This is school-based provision for children aged two to four, with separate rooms for two-year-olds and the three-to-four age group. The nursery has 78 places and forms part of an Early Years Unit alongside Reception.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 28 and 29 February 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Outdoor learning has a regular place in the week. Early years children take part in Forest School throughout the school year, with activities including identifying plants and trees, building dens and tying knots. Storytelling and poetry also move outside. These sessions give children opportunities to use language while exploring and making things, rather than keeping learning at a table.

The grounds include a pond, growing beds and a Forest School area. Indoors, children mix colours in the Atelier and talk about their experiences. An Artforms singing assembly takes place on Mondays for early years, adding shared music to the week. The Christmas programme includes a nursery singing performance and market.

The Early Years Foundation Stage here combines exploration with learning how to participate in a group. In February 2024, adults taught children routines and attentive sitting, while staff identified where children needed extra help with learning. For parents, this means the day includes practising the habits needed to join in, alongside creative and outdoor experiences.

Settling begins before the first session. Families are offered a home visit and opportunities to stay and play, followed by a staggered start. A key person, called the Family Group Leader, supports each child’s learning and wellbeing. This gives the family a familiar adult as nursery becomes part of the child’s routine.

Parents can meet the SENCO before starting if they need to discuss special educational needs or disabilities. Across the school, support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning action, putting it into practice and reviewing progress with families. The site also has disabled access and a Care Suite with specialist facilities, relevant for children with physical disabilities or complex medical needs.

For children attending a full day, lunch can be brought from home or purchased as a school dinner. Families therefore have a choice between a packed lunch and a meal provided at school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority; Leeds residents use Leeds City Council’s application route. Treat that application as a separate task, even when a child is already settled at the nursery.

For September 2026 entry, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. Being part of the school’s Early Years Unit is a feature of the nursery experience, not a promise of admission.

Two 15-hour patterns divide the week: Monday and Tuesday full days followed by Wednesday morning until noon, or Wednesday from 12.30pm followed by Thursday and Friday full days. Full days run from 8.40am to 3.15pm. The 30-hour pattern covers Monday to Thursday, with Friday ending at noon and a lunch break on full days.

The offer includes 15-hour universal entitlement and 30-hour extended entitlement for eligible families. Additional hours depend on space and carry a charge. Extra half-day sessions are paid in advance through Arbor; contact the school for current charges.

Applications and FEE forms are collected from and returned to the office. Nursery visits can also be booked there. Call 0113 3850680 or email katinfo@brigshawtrust.com. Uniform combines a white polo with a navy or red sweatshirt and dark bottoms, including jogging bottoms, leggings, shorts or a skirt.