The Castle School Nursery

Complex learning needs shape the setting around The Castle School's nursery provision. This is a school nursery within a special school in Donnington, Newbury, rather than a separate childcare provider. The school's recruitment information describes provision spanning ages 3 to 19; that is the school's age span, not a nursery age range.

For families, the important distinction is the specialist school context. The admissions route requires an education, health and care plan (EHCP), and placement involves the local authority. Choosing nursery provision here therefore needs to sit alongside the child's assessed educational needs.

Communication provides a useful starting point for understanding the school's learning approach. Its English curriculum begins with listening to different sounds and gradually recognising them. Reading develops from those earliest steps, rather than starting with an expectation that children can already recognise letters.

Twinkl Phonics is the school's named phonics programme. Rhino Readers supplies decodable books matched to the learner's stage. These are school curriculum details: they describe the wider approach around the nursery, rather than a nursery session timetable.

Creative learning also has a physical base in the school's art room. Pupils can experiment with materials and make their own work. Music lessons connect creative expression with choosing, movement and understanding emotions, giving families another concrete picture of the school's approach to learning.

Health routines matter in a setting serving vulnerable children. The school's illness guidance asks families to keep a child at home if they are too unwell to attend, and until a raised temperature has returned to normal. After vomiting or diarrhoea, the required period at home is at least 48 hours following the last episode. This helps families plan care while protecting other children.

Class newsletters provide a school communication channel, with information and photographs about learning. They give parents material to discuss with their child and a way to follow classroom activity between conversations with staff.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Ask your child's local authority how Reception placement is handled. Here, admissions go through West Berkshire Local Authority, and every child attending needs an EHCP.

The school's guidance directs families to ask their child's local authority to consult it about a place. Discuss what happens next with the local authority rather than assuming nursery attendance settles Reception placement.

The main school address is Love Lane, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 2JG. General enquiries can go to office@castle.w-berks.sch.uk or 01635 42976.

Parent tours run each term. Contact headteacher@castle.w-berks.sch.uk to join the tour enquiry process; the response gives the timeframe for tours. This is a practical route to meeting the setting before pursuing a placement consultation.