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Nursery at Earlham Nursery School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Mud drawings, cooking over a fire and bug hunting give Earlham’s nursery day an outdoor character. The garden is a learning space, with trees, shrubs and a sandpit providing materials for exploration and early writing.
On Cadge Road in Norwich, Earlham Nursery School serves children aged 2 to 5. Badger Room accommodates two-year-olds, while Rabbit caters for older nursery children and has a qualified teacher leading its 15-hour provision. Fox Class provides specialist support for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), with admission through Norfolk County Council’s SEND Admission Panel.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides the curriculum: children build language, early reading and practical skills through play and teaching. Whole-school themes bring together vocabulary, poems, stories and songs. Staff combine group activities and direct teaching with support during children’s own play, using their observations to plan what comes next.
Letters and Sounds, Phase 1 develops listening, rhyme and awareness of sounds; children move to Jolly Phonics when ready. Small groups include music and yoga. Outdoors, children use chalk on the ground and sticks in sand to practise making marks. These are practical beginnings for writing.
International Mud Day brings clay faces and mud pictures, while half-termly Forest School Fire Days combine fire safety with preparing food to cook outdoors. Learning also reaches beyond the garden. Children take ingredient lists to Aldi’s for their weekly cooking, and regular trips to City Art Gallery and Norwich Castle Museum broaden their experiences.
The April 2026 inspection identified strengths in children’s personal development, alongside teaching that still needed greater consistency. Early mathematics and assessment were not fully embedded, and some children received too little adult interaction during less structured play. This matters most for children needing help to extend language and learning, including disadvantaged children and those learning English as an additional language.
Settling starts before the first full session. Families joining at a term’s start are invited to a parent and child open evening; those joining later are invited for a visit. Two staff then make a home visit, sharing paperwork with the parent while getting to know the child through play. An initial hour in class is followed by gradually longer stays, allowing the pace to follow the child.
Parents can speak to their child’s Key Person about developmental concerns. WellComm supports language development, while the Boxall Profile informs social and emotional support. Familiar staff deliver interventions through play. Fox Class expertise includes Attention Autism, Intensive Interaction and visual communication, giving the wider team specialist approaches to draw on.
Food is part of learning. Half-day children receive fruit with milk or water; the 30-hour pattern includes a free snack and an on-site cooked lunch. Children help prepare fruit, and lunchtime provides practice with cutlery. Staff also work with parents on toilet training and additional needs.
In April 2026, safeguarding standards were met and personal development and wellbeing reached Strong standard. Children with SEND made progress from their starting points. Concerns remained about low attendance for a group of children, insufficient evaluation of additional funding, and limited staff collaboration time following changes affecting workload and wellbeing. These sit alongside the positive care findings.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal school admissions process, meeting the deadline for their child’s entry year. Norfolk County Council provides the application route. For September 2026 entry, attending a school nursery did not increase the likelihood of receiving a place at that school. Nursery participation and Reception allocation are separate decisions.
The 15-hour pattern runs Monday to Friday in term time: mornings are 8:30–11:30 and afternoons 12:30–15:30. All children qualify from the term following their third birthday; eligible two-year-olds can take the same hours in Badger Room after turning two.
Eligible families can instead access 30 hours in term time, Monday to Friday, 9am–3pm, with Badger for two-year-olds and Rabbit for three- and four-year-olds. This is a fixed school-day pattern, so families need to match it to their working hours.
To apply, collect an application form during a visit or telephone 01603 454271. Visits can be booked, and non-urgent enquiries can also be sent through the contact form.
The age range is 2 to 5. Badger Room is for two-year-olds, and Rabbit offers provision for three- and four-year-olds.
The 15-hour pattern is 8:30–11:30 or 12:30–15:30, Monday to Friday in term time. Eligible children taking 30 hours attend 9am–3pm, Monday to Friday in term time.
A home visit precedes an initial one-hour class visit. Children then build up their time gradually, with shorter sessions where needed.
Half-day children receive a free fruit snack with milk or water. The 30-hour sessions include a free snack and a school lunch cooked on site.
No. A separate Reception application is required. For September 2026 entry, nursery attendance did not increase a child’s chances of a place at the same school.
