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Nursery at Woolden Hill Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Two pet rabbits, Forest School sessions and a natural outdoor area give Woolden Ferns a character of its own. This is Woolden Hill Primary School’s nursery provision in Anstey, for children aged three to four, with up to 30 children per session. It shares the main school’s Ofsted registration.
A qualified Early Years Lead Teacher works with qualified practitioners, and every pre-school staff member has paediatric first-aid training. Ferns aims to develop independence and curiosity through activities shaped around children’s interests. Caring for animals adds a practical dimension to that ambition.
Group time gives the sessions their rhythm; children’s choices fill much of the space between. In the morning, children organise their belongings on pegs before gathering for registration, singing and a group activity. Busy Time follows, with pretend play, drawing and other mark making, creative activities and natural materials to explore. Adults join in according to each child’s interests and next steps. A quieter gathering for books, songs or rhymes closes the session. The afternoon follows a similar pattern.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects seven learning areas. Language, movement and social and emotional development form the foundations; early literacy, maths, creative expression and understanding the world build on them. Activities often serve several areas together, so play carries learning rather than sitting apart from it.
Children can choose activities outside as well as indoors. Natural gardens and a large outdoor area provide space for exploration, while access to Forest School adds another outdoor experience. Ferns aims to keep outdoor learning going throughout the year and encourages daily participation, making suitable clothing a practical consideration.
In March 2025, Ofsted found that stories helped early-years children encounter varied vocabulary and that the youngest children concentrated and took turns. There was also a clear limitation: some early-years activities gave children ready for greater challenge too little opportunity to deepen their knowledge. Families should weigh the freedom to explore alongside that concern about extending learning.
Tapestry connects home and pre-school, sharing children’s achievements and learning with parents. Additional-needs support covers Ferns as well as the school, and the pre-school teacher also holds the SENDCo role. This gives families a direct link between everyday teaching and coordination of additional support.
Milk and fruit accompany both main sessions, with water also available. Children staying for lunch can bring a healthy packed meal or have a school meal, booked and paid for separately through School Grid. Ferns is nut free. Food allergies are accommodated, and parents must tell staff about them before their child starts.
Familiarity with school life and entitlement to a place are separate matters. Ferns works with Reception children to help prepare its children for the next stage. Once a school place has been allocated, families are invited to summer-term transition sessions before the autumn start.
Attending Ferns does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority in the stated oversubscription criteria. Parents must make a separate application to their home local authority using the Common Application Form by 15 January. Treat that application as a distinct step, even if your child already attends the pre-school.
Ferns operates during term time. Morning sessions run from 08:40 to 11:40, afternoons from 12:10 to 15:10, with lunch between them. Early care starts at 07:30; evening care ends at 17:30. A full-day option runs from 07:30 to 17:30.
Session blocks. Families can choose their combination, subject to space, but arrival and collection must match the booked blocks. Casual drop-offs are not accommodated. Tell staff beforehand if another adult will collect your child.
Universal funding provides 15 hours weekly from the term after a child’s third birthday. Eligible families can use the 30-hour entitlement, with eligibility reconfirmed every three months. Funded hours can include wraparound care; additional session hours and school meals attract separate charges. Contact the office for current charges or to discuss childcare arrangements, and email admin@dsatwooldenhill.org to arrange a school visit.
The pre-school caters for children aged three to four, with up to 30 children in each session.
Yes. The full-day option runs from 07:30 to 17:30 during term time, subject to space and the session-block booking rules.
Children explore the natural outdoor area and gardens, choose outdoor activities during Busy Time and have access to Forest School sessions.
Yes. Children staying for lunch may bring a healthy packed lunch or have a separately booked school meal. The pre-school is nut free, and staff must be told about food allergies before a child starts.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a place or confer priority in the stated criteria. Apply separately through your home local authority by 15 January.
