Sherard Primary School Nursery Review

An undercover grass area and a separate quiet room give Sherard Pre-School space for both active play and calmer moments. This is Sherard Primary School’s nursery provision in Melton Mowbray, with children starting from age two. Its accommodation is self-contained, rather than simply a corner of a school classroom.

Friendships and learning to share are central to the pre-school’s approach. Children come from Melton and nearby villages as well as the immediate neighbourhood, and later move to primary schools across the borough. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 25 and 26 January 2022; that judgement covers early years within the school.

Children move between play resources they can explore and small groups guided by adults. That combination gives them opportunities to follow an interest and take part in more directed learning. The pre-school places emphasis on sharing and developing friendships, so learning alongside other children is part of the day’s purpose.

Inside, the community room provides the main space, with a smaller quiet room, toilets and a kitchen forming the rest of the accommodation. Outdoors, children have supervised access throughout the day. There are two areas of artificial grass, one beneath cover, plus a patio. The covered space allows outdoor play to continue in wet weather.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) puts communication, movement and emotional and social development first. Alongside these foundations, children develop mathematical understanding, literacy, creativity and knowledge of the world. For parents, this means learning extends beyond early reading and numbers to how children express themselves and relate to others.

In January 2022, early years learning used a termly Big Question, with winter as one example, and language development received particular attention. This connects new vocabulary to a topic children can explore. Basic Makaton signing also runs through pre-school sessions, giving children another way to express themselves.

The manager combines SEND coordination with a deputy safeguarding role; the deputy manager also has safeguarding responsibilities and holds a foundation degree in children and young people’s services. These roles place additional needs and safeguarding within the nursery’s management structure.

All pre-school staff hold paediatric first aid qualifications, renewed every three years, alongside annual safeguarding training and level 2 food hygiene qualifications. The pre-school says its staffing exceeds the EYFS minimum ratios, allowing adults more time to talk with children about their activities and interests. That is a stated staffing approach rather than a numerical ratio.

Attending Sherard Pre-School does not guarantee a place in Sherard’s Reception. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal Leicestershire County Council route and meet the normal application deadline. Nursery attendance and the school-place application are separate decisions.

Children’s later destinations include primary schools across the borough. Choose this nursery for the experience it offers during the pre-school years, while treating the Reception application as a further step.

Opening is term-time only, five days a week. Families needing care through school holidays should factor that pattern into their plans.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01664 565124. Sherard Primary School’s address is Grange Drive, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1HA. Refer to the school for current charges.