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Nursery at Mexborough St John the Baptist CofE 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
An allotment, cooking from scratch and caring for a living creature give this nursery's curriculum a practical character. These are goals for children's time in Foundation Stage 1 (F1), connecting early learning with things they can grow, make and discuss.
The nursery belongs to Mexborough St John the Baptist CofE Primary School on Sedgefield Way. Children begin in September after turning three, with places for 24 children in the morning and 24 in the afternoon. Attendance follows either a morning, afternoon or full-day pattern across the working week. It is a school-year starting point rather than a rolling birthday intake.
Play is the main route into learning in F1. Adults plan around learning objectives, alongside direct teaching and opportunities to repeat activities. Children have time to practise. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, physical skills and relationships with early reading, mathematics, creative work and understanding the world.
Development Matters 2021 supports the teaching approach. Each half term begins with an inquiry question: children explore what they know and what they want to discover. Their interests help shape the following week's resources, while storybooks and suitable non-fiction introduce the question. This gives children's choices a place alongside adult direction.
Daily stories and accessible class books keep reading part of everyday learning. Nursery goals include growing a plant through to harvest in the allotment, making food from scratch and visiting a farm to talk about its animals. These are planned experiences, rather than a promise that every session contains each activity.
In January 2025, Ofsted found that early-years staff extended children's thinking through questions and regularly introduced vocabulary. Letter, word and number writing also featured in learning activities. The same inspection raised a school-wide concern about inconsistent handwriting teaching and uncorrected errors; that finding should be distinguished from its positive early-years observations.
Children gained confidence and settled promptly in the early years in January 2025. For new nursery families, successful applicants are contacted during the summer term about transition. That creates a preparation stage before the September start.
Families are involved in curriculum goals, with communication about the experiences children are working towards and suggestions for activities at home. This gives parents something specific to discuss and continue beyond the classroom.
An EYFS leader sits within the staff structure, alongside a SENDCo and an inclusion manager. The school aims to review additional support with parents and relevant agencies through Assess, Plan, Do, Review meetings every 12 weeks. Additional needs. In January 2025, some school-wide curriculum adaptations did not sufficiently support pupils with SEND to learn independently. Families considering additional support should weigh the review arrangements alongside that concern.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Moving from F1 to F2 requires a separate application through Doncaster's primary admissions route, and the local authority allocates places. Families must apply through the normal process by the deadline for their child's entry year, even when their child already attends this nursery.
Keep the summer transition contact for nursery entry separate from the Reception application. Preparing a child to start nursery and securing their next school place are different tasks.
The booking patterns are five morning sessions or five afternoon sessions, each totalling 15 hours per week, or full days from Monday to Friday totalling 30 hours. These fixed weekly patterns matter when fitting attendance around family routines.
Nursery applications use Doncaster's online nursery admissions service and are processed by the school via DMBC. Additional F1 charges apply; contact the school for current charges. For enquiries, telephone 01709 582619. The school follows Doncaster's holiday pattern.
Plain uniform is acceptable under the school's dress code, with embroidered logos optional. Clothing, coats and shoes should carry the child's name, helping families keep track of belongings.
Children start in September at the beginning of the school year after they have turned three.
Children attend five morning sessions or five afternoon sessions for 15 hours per week, or full days Monday to Friday for 30 hours per week.
F1 combines play with direct teaching. Planned goals include growing a plant in the allotment, caring for a living creature, cooking from scratch and visiting a farm.
No. Parents must make a separate application through Doncaster's primary admissions route. The local authority allocates Reception places.
Apply through Doncaster's online nursery admissions service. The school processes nursery admissions via DMBC. For enquiries, call 01709 582619.
