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Nursery at Sun Academy Bradwell
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Morning songs, outdoor play and an early focus on reading give Sun Academy Bradwell’s nursery its shape. This is the school’s own provision on Cauldon Avenue in Bradwell, with children able to start from the term after their third birthday. Nursery belongs to the academy’s early years provision, placing its youngest children within the school rather than a separate childcare setting.
The academy’s ABLE motto means Achieve, Believe, Learn, Enjoy. For nursery children, the school aims to translate that into curiosity, willingness to try new things and a sense of connection with the wider community. Play provides a starting point. Adults add questions and explanations to help children develop their understanding.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach combines learning through play with early skills for the next stage of education. Children explore indoors and outside; staff listen to their ideas and extend play through conversation. That gives children opportunities to investigate while receiving adult guidance, rather than relying solely on formal lessons.
Reading has a defined place in the day. Early years children have daily phonics lessons lasting approximately 20–25 minutes, using Jolly Phonics to teach the relationship between sounds and written letters. In February 2024, Ofsted found that reading began in nursery, with organised phonics teaching and practice, but some staff did not consistently correct sound pronunciation, limiting some pupils’ reading fluency. The early years findings also described children developing an understanding of numbers, giving mathematical learning a clear purpose alongside literacy.
Music adds another kind of practice. Musical Development Matters shapes activities around listening, singing, movement and playing. Morning songs and opportunities to make sounds indoors and outdoors bring music into everyday learning, so children can explore sound through their voices and bodies as well as listening.
The Sunrise to Sunset project connects early years children with a dementia ward at a local nursing home. This gives the community emphasis a specific expression beyond the classroom.
Family involvement includes events where parents, grandparents and other relatives join children’s learning. These create opportunities for families to participate in the nursery’s activities and connect with the early years team.
Lunch can be a healthy packed meal from home or a charged school dinner. Catering is provided by the academy with support from the ATT catering team. Parents can select their child’s meal beforehand, and My Child At School (MCAS) handles meal payments. Contact the school for current charges.
An assistant principal holds the SENCo role, providing a school contact for special educational needs and disabilities. Safeguarding responsibilities include a designated lead and a deputy; staff must report concerns about children potentially suffering significant harm. These are school arrangements that also matter to nursery families.
Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority and meet the deadline for their child’s admission round. Nursery attendance and the Reception application are separate decisions.
For the September 2025 intake, the application closing date was 15 January 2025. That cycle is past. A nursery place should therefore be considered on the value of the nursery experience itself, rather than treated as a secured place for the following school stage.
The early years timetable has a morning teaching session from 8:50am to noon and an afternoon session from 12:45pm to 3:15pm. These times describe the school day’s teaching blocks. The academy is a 30-hour childcare provider.
Nursery children wear a white polo shirt, dark grey bottoms, a maroon jumper or cardigan bearing the school logo, and black footwear. This makes uniform part of preparing for nursery, alongside choosing lunch arrangements.
For nursery enquiries, contact sun-office@attrust.org.uk or call 01782 973855. The office can send the nursery application link to a parent’s phone. School tours can also be arranged through the office.
A placement can begin from the term after your child turns three.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the local authority.
The morning block runs from 8:50am to noon; the afternoon block runs from 12:45pm to 3:15pm.
Yes. Families can choose a charged school dinner or provide a healthy packed lunch. Meal payments use My Child At School (MCAS); contact the school for current charges.
Email sun-office@attrust.org.uk or call 01782 973855. The office handles enquiries, can send the nursery application link and can arrange a school tour.
