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Nursery at Brambles Primary Academy
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Car tracks, counting games and early attempts at writing give Brambles’ early years provision its character: children learn through purposeful play. The nursery belongs to Brambles Primary Academy on Kedward Avenue in Middlesbrough, within Tees Valley Education, and the academy’s provision includes two-year-olds.
At the inspection on 28 and 29 January 2025, Ofsted graded early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Play has a clear learning purpose here. In January 2025, early years children were absorbed in making structures, composing lists, playing games with numbers and constructing routes for toy cars. These examples connect early writing and mathematics with activities children want to pursue. Staff knew children closely and responded effectively to their individual needs, helping them make use of those learning opportunities.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers development from birth to age five. In parent language, the trust’s approach brings together learning to communicate, managing feelings and relationships, and developing physical skills. Alongside these foundations come mathematics, literacy, creative expression and discovering the world. Learning is broader than preparation for reading and writing.
Development Matters and Birth to Five support the trust’s curriculum planning. Adult teaching sits alongside planned play, with experiences shaped around children’s needs and what they have already learned. Children can investigate, ask questions, try an idea again and talk through discoveries with adults and other children.
Across the trust’s early years approach, learning areas give children choices both outside and indoors. Connections between these environments let exploration continue in different contexts. The emphasis is on participating, persisting and developing ideas, so choosing an activity also becomes practice in thinking and independence.
Knowing each child matters as much as planning an activity. In January 2025, early years staff’s close understanding of children meant individual needs were addressed effectively. For parents, that makes responsiveness to their child a central strength of the provision.
Additional support follows the trust’s ASSESS-PLAN-DO-REVIEW cycle: identify the need, plan a response, put support into practice and review it. Teaching staff have access to training on adapting learning, while expert input can support targeted interventions. This provides a structure for adjusting help as needs become clearer.
Each trust academy also has a team responsible for welfare and pastoral support. Working under academy leadership, these teams prioritise children needing help from specialist staff or partner organisations.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the local authority’s common application form, and Reception places are allocated by the local authority. Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions.
Familiarity is built through a planned transition programme. Children visit the Reception classroom and experience assemblies, school lunches and other academy routines before starting. These experiences introduce the practical rhythm of school life; they do not secure admission.
Parents are invited to short information meetings before their children start Reception. The transition visits are required before admission, so families need to make time for this programme as well as completing the separate application.
Families can arrange an academy appointment and visit the nursery before admission. That provides an opportunity to introduce a child to the setting before they begin.
For nursery enquiries, contact Brambles Primary Academy on 01642 210704 or email brambles@teesvalleyeducation.co.uk. The academy is on Kedward Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS3 9DB.
Yes. Brambles Primary Academy’s provision includes two-year-old children.
Activities observed in January 2025 included constructing toy-car tracks, building structures, counting games and writing lists.
Early years provision was graded Outstanding at the Ofsted inspection on 28 and 29 January 2025. This was a judgement within the school inspection, not a separate nursery rating.
No. Parents must make a separate formal application through the local authority’s common application form. The local authority allocates Reception places.
Yes. Families have an opportunity to visit before admission and can arrange an appointment with the academy. Contact 01642 210704 or brambles@teesvalleyeducation.co.uk.
