Little Acorns Nursery at Braddock CofE Primary School

A mud kitchen, rope bridge and scramble net give Little Acorns its outdoor character. This is the nursery at Braddock CofE Primary School in East Taphouse, where exploring plants, animals and changing seasons sits alongside classroom play. Outdoor learning means getting involved: children sow seeds, build dens and hunt for minibeasts.

Nursery forms part of a combined nursery and Reception class. Its outdoor team works with colleagues across the trust’s nursery settings, led by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) phase leader. For families drawn to practical exploration, that outdoor emphasis is the defining feature.

Play and focused teaching both have a place. The EYFS curriculum combines children’s own exploration with adult teaching in early writing, phonics, number work and understanding the world. Resources remain available for independent play, while teachers add activities and demonstrate ways to use them. Children can pursue an idea of their own as well as learn a new skill with an adult.

Indoors, the school uses a Reggio Amelia approach with distinct classroom zones. Home corners, puppets and small world play support imaginative activity; construction and mark making give children ways to create and express ideas. Stories, poems and rhymes are part of the curriculum, with the school aiming to develop vocabulary and understanding through listening. Number learning includes ordering, counting and early measuring.

Outside, the activities are physical and practical. Children can experiment with pulleys, weigh logs and use tools, alongside planting and watering. The climbing wall and scramble net offer movement challenges, while the boat provides a setting for pretend play. Exploring the natural world also involves solving problems together and learning to care for one another. Rain is part of the experience, too.

Lunch can be a packed meal from home or an ordered school dinner for children who stay. Families provide a named drinks bottle and a bag containing spare tops, bottoms, underwear and socks. Children who use nappies or are toilet training need their own nappies and wet wipes. These are practical preparations for a day that can involve water, mud and changes of clothes.

For children with additional needs, support is determined by individual needs and circumstances, and the school says it will make every effort to adapt teaching and learning. Its Record of Need supports monitoring for difficulties including speech, language, physical development and learning. Parents or carers meet the class teacher each term to review targets and agree next steps. This gives families a regular opportunity to contribute to support decisions.

Attending Little Acorns does not guarantee a Reception place at Braddock. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Children should be brought and collected punctually. Funding covers 15 hours for three-year-olds, with 30 hours available to some families depending on their circumstances; funded hours begin in the term following a child’s third birthday. Contact the school for current charges.

Clothes need to suit outdoor activity and getting dirty. Long sleeves and trousers or leggings are required in summer as well as winter. Families are asked to supply wellies; the nursery supplies waterproofs. Bring a sun hat and sun cream in summer, and a warm coat and hat in winter. Name these items.

Enquiries go to bra.admin@stbarnabasmat.com or 01579 326136. School visits can be arranged, offering families a chance to meet staff and discuss the setting.