Newport Infant School and Nursery: Nursery Review

Nursery rhymes, story patterns and familiar routines give Newport’s youngest children a recognisable starting point for learning. The nursery sits within Newport Infant School and Nursery on Granville Avenue, with provision that includes two-year-olds. Its character is clearest in those small, repeated experiences: listening, joining in and learning how the day works.

The school took over the provision for two-year-olds in September 2022. It had already operated on the school site under another provider. Ofsted graded early years provision Good following its inspection on 15 and 16 November 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than being a separate nursery rating.

Language gives the nursery day a concrete focus. In November 2023, the youngest nursery children learned rhymes and practised recognising spoken patterns within stories. These are accessible ways for young children to participate: they can listen for familiar sounds and join in with words they recognise. Repetition gives them something to return to.

At the November 2023 inspection, children began learning phonics from the start of early years. Alongside the nursery’s work with rhymes and spoken story patterns, this puts attention on language from the beginning. For parents, the useful distinction is between learning through familiar spoken material and the introduction of phonics: both feature in the early learning described here.

The daily structure also matters. In November 2023, children in early years understood the routines, which helped learning and supported generally positive behaviour. Familiar expectations give a session its shape as well as its learning content. Children have a pattern to follow while they take part.

Predictable routines are the clearest nursery-relevant care feature. The November 2023 findings link children’s understanding of those routines with a positive setting for learning and behaviour. For a young child, knowing what happens next can make participation more manageable; the structure is part of the experience, alongside rhymes and stories.

That makes the organisation of the day relevant to parents as well as the activities themselves.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Newport Infant School and Nursery. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline.

Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions. Familiarity with the school is not a promise of admission, and a nursery place should not be treated as a secured place in the next stage.

The school’s address is Granville Avenue, Newport, TF10 7DX. Its telephone number is 01952386610.

For families planning their journey, this places the nursery provision at the school site in Newport. Keep the nursery decision separate from the later Reception application when organising your child’s next steps.