Weetwood Primary School Nursery Review

Play, conversation and children’s own ideas shape Weetwood’s preschool curriculum. The nursery belongs to the school’s Foundation Stage unit, alongside Reception, giving it a place within the school’s early years provision on Weetwood Lane in Leeds. Its character comes from learning through exploration: planned activities leave room for children’s interests to influence what happens next.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework, with Development Matters also informing the curriculum. In parent language, this brings learning about numbers and language together with learning to manage feelings, build friendships and become more independent. Play is the approach used to put those strands together.

Counting, shape and pattern feature in mathematics; speaking, listening and understanding are the focus of communication work. Physical development includes both larger movements and finer hand skills, alongside managing personal care. Creative learning covers music, drama and art, while understanding the world introduces ideas from science, geography and history. These are connected parts of early learning rather than a timetable of separate school subjects.

Children’s questions and interests can influence planned activities, with opportunities to investigate and collaborate. The early years curriculum includes learning indoors and outside. Staff use observations alongside other teaching opportunities to follow development and adjust activities or introduce additional support when a child needs it. That makes the learning plan responsive to the individual child.

A preschool teacher and teaching assistants form part of the Foundation Stage staff team, with an Early Years Leader providing leadership. Parents can follow their child’s learning through Tapestry, the online journal used across early years. Families are encouraged to contribute, making interests explored at home part of the conversation about learning.

Additional needs can be identified in the early years setting. Teachers raise concerns with the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo), who monitors development and can work with parents. Support plans are reviewed termly; changes are discussed with families by telephone or in a meeting. B-Squared breaks learning into smaller steps for some children, helping staff choose targets that suit their starting point.

School meals are prepared and cooked on site each day, with a rotating menu and provision for dietary requirements. This describes the school’s catering arrangements rather than an entitlement to a nursery meal.

In July 2022, Ofsted described nursery children playing at lunchtime with pupils from Years 5 and 6. Those relationships gave younger children contact with older pupils as well as their own peers.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through their home local authority. For entry in September 2027, the deadline is 15 January 2027; Leeds residents apply at www.leeds.gov.uk/apply. Leeds City Council is the school’s admission authority.

The shared Foundation Stage organisation places preschool within the same early years unit as Reception. That is an organisational link, not an admissions entitlement. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions, and submit the Reception application on time.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0113 3230450 or email bursar@weetwoodprimary.co.uk. The address is Weetwood Lane, Leeds, LS16 5NW.

Visits can be arranged through the school: prospective parents are invited to look around and speak with staff. That gives families an opportunity to discuss their child’s needs directly with the team before deciding whether to apply.