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Nursery at Clifton All Saints 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Saplings Class combines garden exploration with castle building, songs and discoveries about rainbows. This is Clifton All Saints Academy’s pre-school provision, with its own building on the school site and a day organised around morning, afternoon or full-day attendance.
Children can start from the term after turning 2 years 6 months. Capacity is up to 32 children in each session, including a maximum of 8 places for children aged 2–3. That younger-age limit matters for families choosing a starting point before their child’s third birthday.
Play shapes the curriculum. Saplings uses Birth to 5 Matters to guide learning around children’s development and interests, alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the framework followed across the school’s early years. For parents, the practical emphasis is on learning through exploration, with adults also leading activities in mathematics, stories and early phonics.
Half-termly themes help organise activities and resources indoors and outside. The garden gives children opportunities to investigate nature, and outdoor access extends across substantial parts of the day. Castle construction, singing and exploring rainbows give a more concrete picture of the learning than a list of subjects alone: children build, listen and investigate.
Registration runs from 8.45am to 9.00am. Morning attendance finishes at 11.45am, followed by the lunchtime session; afternoon attendance begins at 12.15pm and finishes at 3.15pm. These boundaries let families choose a shorter session or a day that includes both halves.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 7 and 8 December 2022. Listening support included visual cards and praise; fine motor activities helped children manage a pencil and begin writing. Teachers used their understanding of individual needs to decide what to teach next, building from skills children already had. The early years findings linked these adaptations with positive approaches to learning.
A key worker system operates in Saplings, with a class teacher leading the early years team. The pre-school describes its educators as experienced and highly qualified. Its aim for children starting pre-school is a reassuring transition for the family as well as the child.
Lunch takes place in the main school hall. Families can send a packed lunch or choose a charged hot meal, and morning children can stay for the lunchtime session. Younger school year groups join them from noon, bringing some contact with the wider school into the nursery day.
Class Dojo carries communication with parents. For additional needs, the school’s SEND coordinator liaises with families, staff and outside agencies and reviews children’s records. The pre-school teacher also holds a deputy safeguarding lead role, placing a safeguarding responsibility within the nursery team.
A nursery place does not guarantee admission to the school’s Reception. Families must make a separate application through Central Bedfordshire Council and meet the deadline for the relevant Reception admissions round. Treat this as a fresh application, rather than an automatic next step after Saplings.
The pre-school operates Monday to Friday and follows the main school’s term dates. Morning sessions run from 8.45am to 11.45am; afternoons run from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. A full day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm, with lunch between 11.45am and 12.15pm.
JAG, the on-site extended services provider, can extend attendance across 7.30am–6.00pm if needed. Eligible families may receive up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare. Hot meals and lunch club involve charges; contact the school for current charges.
Registration uses separate online forms for children aged 2 years 6 months and those aged 3 years or older. To arrange a school tour, contact the office at school@cliftonallsaintsacademy.co.uk or on 01462 628444. Morning-only collection is at the main school entrance; collection at the end of the full day is from the pre-school building. The office must be told beforehand if another person will collect your child.
Children can join from the term after they turn 2 years 6 months. There are up to 32 places per session, with a maximum of 8 for children aged 2–3.
Yes. Morning sessions are 8.45am–11.45am and afternoon sessions are 12.15pm–3.15pm. Full-day attendance is also possible.
Children staying for lunch can bring a packed lunch or have a charged hot school meal. They eat in the main school hall.
No. Reception requires a separate application through Central Bedfordshire Council.
Yes. On-site provider JAG can extend the day across 7.30am–6.00pm if needed.
