Avanti Fields School Nursery Review

Early reading stood out at Avanti Fields in April 2023: children began learning letter sounds on entry to early years. Nursery provision sits within a mixed, all-through school with a Hindu religious character in Leicester, where the school's age range starts at three.

At the Ofsted inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023, early years provision was rated Outstanding. That judgement covers the school's early years, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The detail behind it matters: children received substantial care and an ambitious curriculum preparing them for their next stage, with learning expectations that did not place a limit on their potential.

Reading has a defined starting point. In April 2023, children began learning letter sounds as they entered early years, supported by staff with specialist knowledge of early reading. For parents, this gives a concrete picture of one part of learning here: the relationship between letters and sounds is introduced from the beginning.

Teaching followed a consistent approach that helped children develop reading fluency quickly. Checks on children's progress identified those who might fall behind, and targeted teaching helped them keep pace with the reading programme. The practical significance is the connection between teaching and support: identifying a difficulty led to additional help, rather than simply recording it.

The Avanti Way supplies the wider educational context. Avanti's approach brings together spiritual insight, education and character development, and the trust says relationships and curiosity are central to its aims. Its named virtues include empathy, respect, gratitude, courage, integrity and self-discipline. For families considering a Hindu school nursery, these aims help explain the values surrounding children's learning alongside the concrete early reading work.

Care was a substantial strength of early years in April 2023. Children were thriving and received affectionate, attentive support, alongside a curriculum that prepared them to move forward. This combination matters for a young child: emotional support and learning were both part of the early years experience.

Reading support also responded to individual progress. Staff identified children who risked losing pace and provided specialist intervention. For a family concerned about early learning difficulties, that is a specific example of support being linked to a child's needs.

Attending Avanti Fields nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery entry and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route and meet the normal deadline.

Treat the nursery choice and the Reception application as separate decisions. The nursery's preparation for children's next stage concerns learning; it should not be read as an entitlement to a place at the school.

Avanti Fields School is at 21 Bhaktivedanta Marg, Leicester, LE5 0BX. For nursery enquiries, telephone the school on 0116 3266813. This gives families a direct contact with the school responsible for the provision.