Mill Hill Primary School Nursery

Songs, stories and learning to play together give Mill Hill’s youngest children a shared starting point. The nursery forms part of Mill Hill Primary School on Crosby Road in Northallerton, with provision for two- and three-year-olds. The two-year-old provision opened in September 2025.

Ofsted’s report published on 13 January 2026 judged early years to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Children in the two-year-old provision were making secure progress from their starting points, with investigation and play providing the route into learning.

Play has a clear learning purpose here. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement and social development with early reading, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. For parents, that means learning includes speaking and listening, making things and developing control of small and large movements.

Mill Hill organises its nursery curriculum around milestones. These help staff establish a child’s starting point when they join and identify what to work on next. The nursery aims to build skills that children can carry through their school years.

In January 2026, early years teaching placed clear emphasis on relationships and emotions. Adults demonstrated words for feelings and learning, and many children confidently used them. Children shared equipment and played together. Those are useful foundations for participating in a group.

Stories, rhymes and singing begin early. Children apply their developing knowledge of sounds during play and when making marks, connecting language with the beginnings of writing. Planned physical development builds stamina, strength and hand control for those activities. The school library sits centrally within the school, and all children can use it to borrow books and read.

Care was a strength of early years in January 2026: routines were effective, and adults’ exchanges with children were generally of a high quality. Partnerships with families were also effective, with parents expressing considerable satisfaction with their children’s provision.

Fresh fruit is available to EYFS children at breaktimes. Communication with families includes texts and emails, alongside termly progress reports and parent consultation meetings. This gives parents both routine updates and opportunities to discuss how their child is developing.

For special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the school’s SENCO provides a contact for questions. Medical needs can be supported through health care plans developed with families and health professionals, giving staff guidance for emergencies.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The application route is through North Yorkshire’s school admissions service, which provides an electronic application form.

Preparation for that change is a separate matter. Mill Hill’s Ready, Steady, Reception! guidance encourages conversation, reading and singing, alongside physical activity and self-care. These give families practical ways to support the next step; they do not secure admission.

Morning and afternoon sessions can be purchased alongside funded attendance, and full-day attendance is also offered. The nursery accepts 15 or 30 funded hours depending on entitlement. For children attending a full day to access 30 continuous funded hours, the school provides a 30-minute lunch club without an additional charge. Ask the school what the lunch club includes and how meals are arranged.

Purchased hours beyond entitlement and breakfast or after-school care carry charges. Ask the school office about availability and current charges. Nursery collection is at 3.15pm. Enquiries can be made on 01609 772382 or by emailing office@millhill-alt.uk, and families can book a school visit.