Willowbrook Mead Primary Academy Nursery

A morning class, classroom bagels and learning broken into manageable steps give Willowbrook Mead’s nursery a clear practical identity. It sits within the primary academy on Roborough Green in Thurnby Lodge, Leicester. For families organising care around a shorter session, the key anchor is an 8.45am start and an 11.45am finish.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 28 and 29 November 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

The morning session provides the framework for the day. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), learning is organised into smaller stages, helping children establish the knowledge and skills they will need next. Books feature in the early years English curriculum, while the school aims to develop vocabulary from the nursery years. The emphasis is on building the foundations for later learning.

Mathematical language starts early too: adults model the vocabulary used in maths and expect children to use it from Nursery onwards. Physical learning in EYFS includes throwing and aiming, alongside balance and coordination. These give children concrete skills to practise as well as words to learn.

French begins in early years through games and songs, introducing vocabulary through familiar activities. Technology is also taught from Nursery onwards, with online safety included from the Foundation Stage. Design and technology gives nursery children opportunities to work with equipment and materials. The school has an enrichment room containing resources for making and cooking, and grounds developed for learning. These are school facilities rather than a description of a separate nursery outdoor area.

Bagels are provided in the nursery classroom as part of the morning routine. This puts food within the session itself. The separate breakfast club beginning at 8am is for children in Years 1–6, so families should plan around the nursery’s own start time.

For children needing additional help, the school’s SEND provision includes language groups, visual timetables and support from speech and language therapy for assessed individuals. Parents receive SEN paperwork at least three times a year after assessment periods, giving them opportunities to follow targets and support arrangements.

Physical access includes an infant section on one level, with wide corridors and accessible toilets. A Family Support Worker can refer families to other agencies or help them find support. This provides a route for concerns extending beyond classroom learning.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal Reception admissions process: an online application to Leicester City Council, submitted by the deadline for their application cycle. Keep that application separate from joining the nursery waiting list.

Transition support for children with SEND is tailored to individual needs. It may include extra meetings with the next teacher, classroom visits to locate toilets and pegs, or photographs used to create a transition booklet or social story. These arrangements support familiarity with the next class; they do not secure admission.

The morning nursery class runs from 8.45am until 11.45am. That finish time is the practical consideration for families arranging collection and care for the rest of the day.

To join the nursery waiting list, complete the nursery application form. General enquiries can go to the school’s admin team on 0116 2413756. The academy’s address is Roborough Green, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, LE5 2NA.