Streethay Primary School Nursery Review

Daisies and Daffodils give Streethay’s nursery two distinct stages: a room for younger children and a pre-school room, both within Streethay Primary School in Lichfield. Daisies caters for ages 2–3, with entry from the September after a child turns 2; Daffodils caters for ages 3–4. Children are grouped by their future school year, so the organisation follows the cohort they will grow up alongside.

A teacher oversees the nursery. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 5 and 6 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Natural materials and conversation give the learning approach its character. Streethay uses elements of Reggio Emilia alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), with resources intended to prompt exploration and ideas. Children choose some activities themselves; adults guide others or lead them directly. This gives the day room for children’s interests as well as planned teaching.

The EYFS brings together learning about feelings and relationships, communication, movement, reading and writing, maths, the wider world and creative expression. A fresh theme each half term provides a starting point. Books help shape the topics, with stories, factual reading and poetry woven into activities and shared reading. Adults demonstrate vocabulary and ways of thinking, giving children language to express what they discover. In March 2024, early years children were using subject vocabulary confidently after adults demonstrated ambitious language.

Outdoor play is a nursery focus, alongside trips and visits. The school’s classrooms open directly onto green spaces, making the outdoors a concrete part of the learning environment. Forest School sessions run across all year groups; families may be asked to supply extra clothing or a change of clothes. Inside, Daisies and Daffodils provide the nursery’s separate room bases.

Each child has a key person who works with family members and other adults on their next steps. Before children start, staff gather information from parents and previous childcare settings about their interests. Nursery transition sessions help children become familiar with the setting before their regular attendance begins.

Online learning journals record observations, and parents can contribute experiences from home. For children needing additional support, the early years team works with an internal speech and language specialist providing individual sessions. The school’s SENCO coordinates SEND provision, while a Family Support Worker helps families connect with local services.

Lunch can be a booked hot dinner or a packed lunch from home. Breakfast Club includes breakfast, while After School Club includes a snack. Breakfast choices include toast, cereals, fruit and yogurts; the afternoon provision serves a cold meal or snack at 4pm, with examples including sandwiches and wraps. Families therefore have food arrangements to consider alongside their session choices.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Staffordshire School Admissions Service using the normal local authority process, by the deadline for their entry year.

There is a specific, conditional priority: children attending Streethay’s nursery who also receive Early Years Pupil Premium fall within the third oversubscription category. Attendance alone does not confer that priority. This distinction matters when deciding whether nursery attendance will affect a later application.

Preparation for the move is separate from allocation. Nursery topics are planned to connect with later learning, and Reception transition activities include summer-term taster mornings and information events for parents. These help children and families prepare for a new routine; they do not secure admission.

Morning sessions run from 8:35am to 11:35am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Drop-off and collection use classroom doors. Breakfast Club starts at 7:30am and After School Club finishes at 6pm, extending the options for families who need a longer day.

Eligible families can use 15 or 30 funded hours for working parents, or Think2 funding, towards day sessions. The lunchtime interval is charged separately, with an additional charge for a booked hot dinner. Ask the school for current charges when choosing sessions.

Daisies has a more relaxed clothing arrangement: a green school jumper and white T-shirt, with black joggers and trainers acceptable for comfort. Nursery enquiries go to info@streethay.set.org. Tours can be booked, giving families an opportunity to meet the team and see the nursery.