Forest Lodge Academy Nursery

Stories children invent themselves, a stage outdoors and numbers explored at a Maths Station give Forest Lodge Academy's nursery its character. Play has a clear learning purpose here. Children can dictate a story to an adult, then act it out for their classmates: speaking, imagination and performance come together in one activity.

The nursery takes children from age 3 and has 60 places within Forest Lodge Academy on Charnor Road, Leicester. Morning and all-day patterns provide different lengths of day, with school lunch an option for children staying all day.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes learning across language, reading and writing, maths, relationships, movement, creativity and understanding the world. Children spend a substantial part of each day choosing activities themselves, alongside sessions directed by adults. Weekly circle time explores friendship and kindness, including issues that have come up among the children.

Little Wandle supplies the phonics approach. Daily sessions involve rhymes, songs and listening to patterns in words. Writing extends beyond a table: large boxes, floor-level paper, clipboards and a message centre give children different ways to make marks. After Autumn 1, copying their name becomes part of self-registration. Books also stay within reach after a shared story, so children can return to them independently.

White Rose guides maths. Children spend longer exploring an individual numeral, connecting its written form with quantities, shapes and ways of representing it. Whole-group teaching, smaller groups and the Maths Station offer several opportunities to practise. Outdoors, natural materials become resources for mathematical problems.

Children can explore outdoors daily, with physical activities that may include throwing, catching, football and climbing. A weekly big moves session works on core strength; balance-ability develops balance, while daily funky fingers activities exercise smaller movements. The outdoor stage has instruments and music for children to perform to one another. Local walks add listening activities and opportunities to investigate their surroundings.

Curriculum continuity. In June 2022, Ofsted found that early years children applied learning through play and were ready for their next learning stage, but leaders needed to make curriculum planning across the school build more consistently on early years learning. The same inspection found that some curriculum elements across the school were not fully embedded and teaching did not consistently put the planned curriculum into practice. Leaders needed to develop staff subject knowledge and check that all pupils, including disadvantaged children and those with SEND, gained the knowledge needed for their next stage. That makes the connection between nursery learning and what follows an important consideration alongside the activities themselves.

Independence is practised in small steps. Children try putting on coats and fastening zips, receive reminders about hygiene and are encouraged to use the toilet themselves, with adult help when needed. Children finding fine movements difficult receive adult encouragement during play, and pencil grips support those still holding a pencil in their palm.

Joining arrangements include an All About Me Form and an Early Years Welcome Pack, allowing families to share information about their child. School lunch can be provided for the all-day pattern, and a City Catering Diet Meals Request Form provides a route for dietary requests. For children attending 30 hours, lunch occupies 11.50am to 12.50pm; staff are available for parent liaison after the afternoon dismissal.

At the June 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that early years staff recognised additional needs promptly and arranged timely support. Families also have access to the school's SENCO, giving them a contact for discussing special educational needs and disabilities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Leicester City Council. For the August 2026 intake, the deadline was 15 January 2026; that admissions cycle is now past.

Preparation happens separately from admissions. Nursery children become familiar with different parts of the school, then begin joining phase and celebration assemblies during the summer term. These experiences introduce the routines and expectations of a larger school group.

The morning pattern runs from 8.50am to 11.50am for 15 hours of provision; the all-day pattern runs from 8.50am to 2.50pm for 30 hours. Funded places are offered, with eligibility checks forming part of accessing funding. Collection arrangements include permission for adults collecting children.

To arrange a nursery visit, contact the school office on 0116 287 1220. Visits include meeting the teaching team and seeing the nursery facilities. The school runs a Breakfast Club, but nursery access should be confirmed before relying on it. The school has stopped running its after-school childcare club, which matters for families needing care beyond the nursery afternoon.