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Nursery at Overdale Infant School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Play, counting and the language of stories give Overdale’s pre-school its character. This is Overdale Infant School’s own nursery provision in Knighton, Leicester, for children aged three and above. It sits within the infant school’s early years provision, with the emphasis on children becoming curious, independent learners.
Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 January 2025. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating. The pre-school findings give parents a more specific picture: children made a positive beginning, supported by an ambitious curriculum and learning through play.
Learning through play is the central approach here. In January 2025, the pre-school curriculum and learning environment encouraged children to explore, while adults helped them develop independence and curiosity. The practical implication is a start to education in which play carries learning, rather than simply filling the time between teaching activities.
Stories have a purpose beyond listening. Children brought vocabulary from the stories they heard into their play, giving them opportunities to use words in a different context. Early mathematics also had concrete substance: activities helped children develop counting and knowledge of numbers. Language and number learning are therefore visible parts of the pre-school experience.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the framework for learning and development up to age five. Overdale uses maths mastery across its early years, aiming to develop children’s understanding of numbers and the relationships between them. This gives the counting activities a clear educational purpose.
Responding to learning. In January 2025, staff sometimes checked understanding but did not sufficiently use what they learned to correct errors or choose the next teaching steps, including within early years. This is a relevant consideration alongside the positive findings about pre-school play and mathematics.
Additional needs are supported through a SEND coordinator shared by the pre-school and infant school. The coordinator is a qualified teacher and also holds a deputy safeguarding role. Parents can make contact through the school office, giving families a direct route to discuss support.
A trained Pastoral Support Worker works across Overdale Pre-School and the infant and junior schools. For families needing extra help, this provides a support role that extends beyond classroom learning. Parents can also request support by emailing support@overdale-inf.leicester.sch.uk.
For children with SEND, support around starting school can include extra visits, meetings and home visits. These allow preparation to respond to the child’s needs. Across the school, adaptations include visual timetables and social stories, alongside assistance with eating, toileting and developing play. The main school building is single storey, with accessible toilets and a disabled parking space, relevant details for families considering physical access.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place and does not confer priority under the 2026–2027 admission criteria. Families must apply separately through their home local authority’s normal application process by the normal deadline. Leicester City Council allocates places at Overdale; familiarity with the pre-school does not replace that application.
Preparation for the move is a separate matter. Pre-school staff are encouraged to visit Reception classrooms, either with children or independently. Children have a school taster day, and home visits help prepare families for starting school. Transition booklets use photographs of classrooms and staff to make the next setting more familiar.
Continuity of learning. In January 2025, some learning in Reception did not build sufficiently on pre-school learning. Families should distinguish the practical preparation for moving classrooms from how securely teaching continues what children already know.
The school office handles enquiries on 0116 2882724 or reception@overdale-inf.leicester.sch.uk. A contact form provides another route. Office hours run from 8.30am to 4.00pm during term time, useful for planning a call about the pre-school.
The pre-school caters for children aged three and above.
Play supports learning, with stories contributing vocabulary and mathematics activities developing counting and knowledge of numbers. Overdale uses a maths mastery approach across early years.
Early years provision was judged Good at the school inspection on 21 and 22 January 2025. This is a school early years judgement, not a separate nursery inspection outcome.
No. Attendance neither guarantees a place nor confers priority under the 2026–2027 admission criteria. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority.
Contact the school office to reach the SEND coordinator. A trained Pastoral Support Worker also works across the pre-school, infant and junior schools, and families can request support through support@overdale-inf.leicester.sch.uk.
