Yardley Hastings Primary School Nursery

Daily phonics, a music teacher each week and outdoor play through the seasons give Yardley Hastings’ nursery its shape. Children aged 3 to 4 join Class 1, sharing their learning and play with Reception children. This is nursery life within the school’s early years class, with older classmates already part of the everyday experience.

At the Ofsted inspection on 7 and 8 November 2023, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision together. Nursery learning was characterised by carefully designed activities and repeated opportunities to develop skills and vocabulary, giving children time to use what they had learned.

Phonics starts the day, with counting and number activities also part of nursery learning. A dedicated music teacher works with the children weekly, adding a regular musical element to the routine. These are concrete ingredients for families seeking an early introduction to sounds, numbers and music alongside play.

Class 1 uses a play-based approach: children investigate, explore independently and learn with others. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas of learning and development. Here, the everyday emphasis includes communication, early reading and number skills, alongside learning to take turns and understand feelings. Play has a learning purpose.

Topics include People Who Help Us, Farm to Fork and Minibeasts, giving learning recognisable themes drawn from everyday life and the natural world. The school uses Jolly Phonics, connecting the daily sound work with a named phonics programme.

A dedicated outdoor area is used across seasons and weather conditions, so outdoor learning is part of the provision rather than a summer-only activity. Indoors, exploration and planned experiences sit alongside adult interaction. In November 2023, nursery children had repeated chances to practise new learning, helping skills and vocabulary become familiar through use.

Qualified, experienced early years practitioners form the nursery team. Regular parent meetings sit alongside opportunities to speak with staff when dropping off or collecting children. That gives families both planned conversations and everyday contact about their child.

Sharing, taking turns and handling feelings are explicit parts of Class 1 learning. Adults guide children as they develop relationships and independence, allowing progress at an individual pace. The school aims to help children feel secure and confident through these relationships and routines.

Fruit is provided at snack time. Children under 5 are entitled to free milk, ordered through Cool Milk. For those attending over lunch, families can send food from home or order a paid meal through ParentPay. This gives parents a choice between a packed lunch and a school meal while keeping lunchtime within the nursery day.

Working and playing with Reception classmates gives nursery children familiarity with the shared early years class. It is a practical connection between the two stages, separate from the allocation of school places.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat that application as a distinct step, even when your child already attends nursery here.

Morning and afternoon sessions can be combined flexibly with lunchtime attendance. Nursery places can start in the term following a child’s third birthday, subject to limited availability. The session choice lets families arrange attendance around the parts of the day they need.

Grant funding applies from the term after the third birthday. The School Office provides funding information and current charges; curriculum attendance and lunchtime childcare have separate charges. Visits can also be arranged through the office on 01604 696268.

Uniform is required in nursery. The school colours include red sweatshirts or cardigans, white shirts or polo shirts and grey trousers, skirts or shorts, with black school shoes. My Clothing supplies logoed items, so nursery children join the school’s uniform routine from the outset.