Dell Primary School Nursery

Play and a first introduction to Read Write Inc shape the early learning offer at Dell Primary School’s nursery in Oulton Broad, Lowestoft. It sits within the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), bringing nursery education into a primary school setting.

In May 2022, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good. That judgement covers the early years as a whole, rather than giving the nursery a separate rating. Early reading was a positive feature: children made a successful beginning, with staff helping them develop from their individual starting points.

Learning combines play with activities planned by adults. Dell follows the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, which organises children’s experiences around areas of learning and development. In parent language, activities have a learning purpose, while play remains a way for young children to explore and learn. The school aims to encourage curiosity, investigation and confidence in making choices.

Read Write Inc (RWI) is the named phonics programme, and nursery pupils receive an introduction to it. Across the early years, teaching connects sounds with the letters that represent them, using memory aids and repeated practice. This gives families a concrete picture of the approach to early reading, rather than simply a promise of school readiness.

The May 2022 findings described much of the curriculum, including early years, as thoughtfully planned. There was also a wider curriculum concern: some subject plans needed clearer teaching sequences, and staff needed training to put them into practice. For parents, the useful distinction is between the positive early reading findings and the need for greater consistency elsewhere in the school’s curriculum.

Support for additional needs starts with assessment and discussion involving families and staff. Provision is adapted to the child, with external specialists involved when needed, including therapists, educational psychologists and the NHS. An early years and Key Stage 1 SEND coordinator provides a contact alongside the class teacher. Families can use senco@dellprimary.org.uk to begin that conversation.

Preparation also includes toilet-training advice for parents. This focuses on a practical skill children are learning before school, rather than an academic milestone. Dell’s approach to inclusion aims to accommodate medical conditions and physical or sensory needs, as well as difficulties with learning, communication or emotional wellbeing.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Applications go through Suffolk County Council’s website, with the local authority coordinating entry and published admission rules determining how applications are prioritised. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

The school office arranges visits with a member of the senior leadership team. This gives parents a direct enquiry route when considering the nursery. Contact Dell on 01502 565956 or email admin@dellprimary.org.uk. The school is on Dell Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, NR33 9NU.

For journeys to and from the site, parents must keep the staff car park clear at collection and drop-off. Parking in the surrounding area should be safe and considerate.