Charnwood Primary School Nursery Review

Animal noises in stories, materials to build with and a morning spent learning indoors and outside: Charnwood’s nursery introduces school through language and practical exploration. Known as Foundation Stage One (FS1), it belongs to Charnwood Primary School on Nedham Street in Leicester. Children qualify for entry if they are three by 31 August, and the nursery offers 26 places.

The school’s early years provision received a Requires improvement judgement at the Ofsted inspection on 8 and 9 April 2025. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than being a separate nursery rating. For parents, the important concern is how adults help children turn independent play into lasting learning.

Three-hour mornings combine opportunities to talk, explore books and work with materials. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides learning and development: here, that means early number experiences, creativity, science and technology alongside social skills. Teaching takes account of each child’s developmental stage, with progress tracked across their development. Both the classroom and outdoor environment are used for learning.

Listening comes before formal reading. FS1 uses Phase One of Letters and Sounds to develop awareness of sounds and prepare children to blend and separate them orally. Linked activities for families include comparing outdoor sounds, accompanying rhymes with instruments and exploring rhyme through The Gruffalo. These give parents concrete ways to continue the listening work at home.

In April 2025, nursery children were predicting which animal sounds would come next during stories. Across early years, children also investigated materials through construction and creative activity. There was curiosity to work with.

However, independent tasks did not consistently reinforce earlier learning. Adults sometimes missed opportunities to develop children’s speech and language, slowing their grasp of routines and leaving developmental gaps harder to close. Early years staff needed further expertise to put the intended curriculum into practice. Independent learning. These concerns make adult interaction during play a useful focus when families look around: ask how staff build on a child’s ideas and help them practise what they have learned.

The FS1 team includes a class teacher who also holds the SENCo role, alongside a Level 3 teaching assistant. Families can raise concerns about learning, speech, behaviour or medical needs through the school office, giving them a direct route to the special educational needs coordinator.

Before an autumn start, Foundation Stage staff aim to visit children’s families where possible. Parents receive guidance on preparing for the first days, and new families are offered an induction meeting. This brings preparation into the home as well as school. The nursery also says it will try to support parents with toilet training in school.

Food brought into school must follow its nut-free rules. Packed lunches and snacks should exclude nuts and nut products, as should food supplied for celebrations. This matters because some pupils have potentially life-threatening allergies.

A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place and gives no priority for admission to the main school. Families must make a separate application for Foundation Stage Two, the school’s Reception year, alongside other applicants.

Apply online through Leicester City Council and meet the normal Reception application deadline. Treat that application as a separate task even after accepting an FS1 place: nursery attendance has no effect on whether a main-school place is allocated.

FS1 runs from 8.40am to 11.40am, Monday to Friday, totalling 15 hours a week. Places are allocated for half-day attendance. The morning finish is a decisive childcare consideration for families planning work and collection.

Children need a water bottle and book bag each day. Label their belongings, including jumpers, hats and gloves. For nursery enquiries, contact the office on 0116 251 6574 or email office@charnwood.thealt.org.uk; application forms can be collected there. New families are welcome to look around the school and see teaching in progress.