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Nursery at Heatherley 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Bikes, scooters and books give Heatherley’s nursery its character: early learning has room for movement as well as stories. The Pre-School Nursery Unit takes children aged 3 & 4 and forms part of Heatherley Primary School’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in Forest Town, Mansfield. The early years provision has access to three outdoor areas, with a designated space for practising bike and scooter skills.
This is a school-based, term-time nursery with a nursery lead and a nursery teaching assistant. Families can choose morning or afternoon attendance, while eligible children can attend under the 30-hour entitlement. That makes the attendance pattern a practical part of the choice alongside the learning itself.
Play has time to develop here. Daily routines allow children to spend sustained periods on activities they choose themselves, using familiar resources that can serve different purposes. Adults add materials and experiences to extend that learning. Indoor provision is complemented by outdoor learning and Woodland School, giving children opportunities to explore the natural world.
The EYFS curriculum covers seven areas of learning. Heatherley uses playful teaching across these areas, with an emphasis on children exploring, staying involved and developing their own ideas. Assessment draws on everyday interactions, and Tapestry helps staff record development and plan each child’s next steps. The practical implication is that learning plans respond to the child rather than relying solely on a fixed sequence.
Books provide a clear thread through the day. Nursery children hear fiction, poems, nursery rhymes and non-fiction daily, with themed books shaping the curriculum over the year. Little Wandle activities build listening and attention through environmental sounds. Summer-term reading sessions use Phase 1 picture books to develop understanding and vocabulary. Children also choose a book to share with an adult at home, connecting nursery reading with family time.
In March 2023, Ofsted found early years children absorbed in mathematical learning: they could explain four as both an even number and twice two. That is a concrete example of children talking through an idea, rather than simply reciting numbers.
For children staying all day, lunch can include a hot school dinner or a jacket potato, with a separate charge handled through ParentPay. Food is therefore part of the full-day arrangement, rather than an automatic inclusion in funded attendance.
Support sits within the wider school team. Staff assess individual needs, can arrange additional teaching support and adjust the curriculum accordingly. A SENCO provides a contact for families discussing SEND, while the family support worker offers practical help with difficulties affecting learning, attendance or well-being. These are useful routes for raising a concern and agreeing what help a child needs.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Nottinghamshire County Council using the normal admissions process and deadline. Nursery applications go directly to the school; the two routes are distinct.
The nursery’s listening activities, shared books and early phonics work prepare children for later learning. That preparation should be considered separately from the allocation of a school place.
Morning sessions run from 8.50 am to 11.50 am; afternoons run from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm. The nursery opens Monday to Friday during term time, with full-day provision from 8.50 am to 3.30 pm. Individual timetable changes cannot be accommodated.
The 15-hour offer uses either mornings or afternoons. The 30-hour offer requires a valid Childcare Choices code. Families using funded hours only can collect at 2.50 pm, or collect at 11.50 am and bring their child back at 12.30 pm. Staying for the additional non-funded time incurs a charge through ParentPay; contact the school for current charges.
Breakfast and after-school clubs accept full-time children, including 30-hour nursery children. Breakfast club starts at 7.45 am, and after-school care runs from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. Breakfast includes a drink; after-school care includes a snack and a quiet area for reading or colouring. To register nursery interest, contact the office on 01623 420244 or office@heatherley.notts.sch.uk.
The Pre-School Nursery Unit accepts children aged 3 & 4.
Mornings are 8.50 am to 11.50 am and afternoons are 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Full-day provision runs from 8.50 am to 3.30 pm, Monday to Friday, term-time only.
There is a 15-hour morning or afternoon offer. The 30-hour offer is for families holding a valid Childcare Choices code, with collection options that avoid additional non-funded time.
Full-time children, including 30-hour nursery children, can attend breakfast club from 7.45 am and after-school club from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. Charges apply.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through Nottinghamshire County Council using the normal admissions process and deadline.
