Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School Nursery

Songs, familiar rhymes and stories shaped the nursery's early reading in March 2022, with children learning through joining in. The nursery belongs to Alderman Richard Hallam Primary School on Avebury Avenue in Leicester. Its focus here is the beginning of school life, with school-readiness activities for families alongside learning in the nursery.

Preparation extends beyond the classroom. Families have access to a school-readiness challenge, a poster and a reward chart, giving them concrete materials to use with their child.

Joining in with a familiar rhyme is part of the learning, rather than simply an interlude. In March 2022, Ofsted described reading as beginning in Nursery through songs, rhymes and stories. These give children a way to participate before they can read independently: they can listen, recognise familiar material and join the group response.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the curriculum reference point. Families can access Development Matters material for ages 3–4 and posters about the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning. These offer two ways to think about the nursery day: what children are developing, and how they take part in learning. The age-specific material also gives parents a starting point for understanding this stage, rather than looking ahead to later schoolwork.

Curriculum clarity. The March 2022 inspection identified an early-years weakness: planned activities did not consistently specify the knowledge children should gain. Some lessons consequently centred on completing an activity rather than a clear learning goal. The required change was to identify that knowledge across the early-years curriculum. For families, the useful distinction is between what a child does during a session and what that experience helps them learn.

Families can direct support enquiries to the SENDCO, with the school office providing another contact route. This gives parents a practical starting point for a conversation about their child's needs.

Health for under 5s and Hungry Little Minds are available as family resources. The latter provides simple activities for children from birth to five, while the health resource focuses on keeping young children healthy and active.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience itself.

The school-readiness challenge and reward chart offer something families can use during that preparation. They support work at home; they do not secure admission.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0116 262 4003 or email office@aldermanrichardhallam.leicester.sch.uk. The school is at Avebury Avenue, Leicester, LE4 0FQ. General enquiry contact forms provide another route to the office, so families can begin the conversation by telephone, email or form.