The Sir Donald Bailey Academy Nursery Review

Choosing activities, moving between indoor and outdoor play, then gathering for guided learning: Foundation 1 combines children's own interests with a structured session. At the June 2023 inspection, the nursery provision at The Sir Donald Bailey Academy in Newark covered ages 2 to 4. Foundation 1 serves children aged 3 to 4.

Squirrels, Rabbits and Hedgehogs are the Foundation 1 home-time groups. A classroom with space for play and movement between indoors and outdoors gives children room to explore, while group teaching and individual guidance add direction to their choices.

Name cards start the session: children use them to register themselves, making recognition of their own name part of an everyday routine. Phonics and literacy feature in each session, alongside a planned counting activity. During time for choosing activities, resources respond to children's interests, developmental stages and the week's theme. Adult-led tasks bring children together in small groups.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) links early learning with everyday development. In Foundation 1, this means building conversation and listening, movement skills and relationships alongside early reading, number, creativity and exploration of the world. Children choose some activities themselves and receive guidance in others. Books can be borrowed for stories at home, extending that experience beyond the session.

Letters and Sounds provides the phonics framework. Its nursery starting point uses songs, rhymes and listening to everyday sounds, giving children practice in hearing differences before later reading work. Jigsaw activities address friendship and feelings, including calming themselves and talking about the move from nursery to school.

In June 2023, Ofsted found that early-years learning developed children's understanding across the curriculum: pairing socks on a washing line made odd and even numbers tangible, while making fish connected creative work with learning about sea life. Those examples show practical tasks carrying an educational purpose.

Short goodbyes are encouraged in Foundation 1. Staff comfort and occupy children after parents leave, and contact families if a child remains unsettled after a short time. For a longer conversation about a concern, parents can arrange an appointment with the class teacher or speak after the session once children have been dismissed.

Fruit and milk form part of snack time, with drinking water accessible throughout. Children staying for lunch can bring food from home or have a school meal ordered through SchoolGrid. Each child has a peg for their coat and spare clothing; spare pants and socks are requested even for children who already use the toilet independently.

For concerns about development or additional needs, the class teacher is the first contact, with SEND coordinators supporting the next steps. The school uses the Wellcome Early Years Toolkit for speech and language screening. Families receiving SEND support have termly opportunities to discuss progress, targets and provision, keeping parents involved in decisions.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority; Nottinghamshire County Council coordinates the academy's admissions. For the 2026-2027 intake, nursery attendance conferred no oversubscription priority, and the application deadline was 15 January 2026. Families should treat the Reception application as a separate decision and timetable.

Transition support serves a different purpose. For children with SEND, individual or group programmes and extra classroom visits have been used according to need. Jigsaw also gives Foundation 1 children opportunities to discuss their feelings about moving to school. Familiarity and emotional preparation do not change the admissions process.

Pre-School and Foundation 1 sessions run from 8.30am to 11.30am, from 12.20pm to 3.20pm, or across the day from 8.30am to 3.20pm. Foundation 1 collection begins at 11.15am for mornings and 3.05pm for afternoons and full days, giving families a collection window.

Foundation 1 has 15-hour funded places and 30-hour funded places for eligible families. Paid bookings use half-term slots across Monday-Friday; contact the school for current charges and contract terms. Breakfast and afterschool clubs also run beyond session times.

Uniform is optional in Foundation 1. Comfortable play clothes, labelled belongings and clothing suited to outdoor weather are the practical priorities. Visits can be arranged through the school office on 01636 680142; enquiries can also go to office@sirdonaldbailey.co.uk.