Co-op Academy Friarswood Nursery Review

Songs, sound practice and job-role play give Friarswood’s nursery a distinctly school-linked character. Co-op Academy Friarswood has 26 nursery places for children aged 3-4, bringing early learning into the academy’s own early years provision.

An early years lead, senior nursery nurse and teaching assistants form the early years team. For families choosing a first school experience, the useful detail is the combination of nursery care roles and curriculum leadership within that team.

Learning reaches beyond early reading. The Early Years Curriculum brings together physical development, music and first encounters with technology: children practise movement, explore how devices work and join in songs. These are concrete ways to understand the nursery’s learning offer rather than treating early education as preparation for written work alone.

Read Write Inc. supplies the phonics approach. Nursery children practise the links between letters and sounds daily, using memory prompts to help them remember. Reading groups follow children’s reading progress, with assessments each half term for those on the programme. This gives practice a defined sequence and allows grouping to respond to learning.

Weekly music lessons use Charanga resources. Nursery children sing familiar rhymes and songs, listen to different musical styles and respond to what they hear. Physical development combines scheduled teaching with opportunities within the learning environment, supporting skills such as balance, throwing and coordination. Indoor and outdoor activities both belong to the nursery curriculum.

Early technology experiences include interactive books, remote-control devices and musical keyboards. Classrooms also have computing equipment, giving children opportunities to explore technology within their learning spaces. Job-role play has a different purpose: the school aims to show children that jobs are open to everyone, challenging gender assumptions through play.

A carton of milk and a piece of fruit are free for each nursery child, with drinking water accessible during the day. Children can bring lunch from home or have a school dinner. That gives families a choice over the main meal alongside the nursery’s milk and fruit provision.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities follows the school’s shared arrangements. Parents can raise concerns with the class teacher and involve the SEND coordinator. Pupil passports bring together a child’s strengths, support and targets; reviews take place termly or when needed. Visual timetables and classroom quiet areas are among the practical adaptations, helping children understand routines and have space for calm time.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions route, with online applications handled through Staffordshire admissions. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

Class transitions have their own support arrangements. For children with SEND, summer handover meetings involve the current teacher, next teacher and SEND coordinator. Extra classroom visits and transition books can be used where beneficial. These help prepare a child for change; they do not secure admission.

Nursery uniform combines grey skirts, pinafores or trousers with a pale blue polo and burgundy jumper. Clothing does not need a school logo. The Uniform Exchange includes nursery sizes and operates at the Junior entrance/exit at the start and end of the day, offering a practical reuse option.

Outdoor learning needs its own kit: wellies stay at school, and children need a hooded coat each day. Sun protection is needed in warmer weather. Label clothing and footwear so items can be identified.

To enquire, contact the school on 01782 470401 or arrange a visit. School tours are being offered for families considering a September 2027 nursery start. Refer to the school for current school-dinner charges.