Queen's Hill Primary School Nursery

Bean seeds, musical instruments and mirrors give Queen's Hill's nursery learning a practical character. Children plant and water, listen to one another's music, and study their own features before making self-portraits. These are concrete ways to explore living things, sound and identity rather than simply hear about them.

The nursery belongs to Queen's Hill Primary School on Kestrel Avenue in Costessey, Norwich. Morning and full-day sessions give families two different lengths of nursery day, both beginning at 8.30am.

Hands-on exploration gives the early years foundation stage (EYFS) its parent-friendly meaning here: children learn through things they can observe, handle and try. Nursery children have planted beans and watered their seeds, giving them something to follow as growth happens. This makes change a tangible subject for conversation.

Music brings listening alongside making sound. Children have played instruments and listened to their friends' music, so participation includes paying attention to somebody else's contribution. For self-portraits, mirrors let children examine their hair and eye colour before creating a picture. Observation leads into art.

Physical development also features in the Big Toddle, where nursery and Reception children took part in balancing and river-themed challenges. These examples show movement alongside creative and exploratory activities. They describe particular experiences, rather than a fixed timetable repeated each day.

In March 2023, Ofsted found that routines were established effectively from the beginning of the early years. That finding concerns the early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery grade.

For additional needs, the school's staffing includes two Inclusion Leaders who are qualified SENCOs. Families can contact the inclusion team at inclusionleader@queenshill.norfolk.sch.uk, giving SEND questions a direct route to the relevant team. General school messages usually arrive by text or email, and parents can raise concerns with their child's teacher.

Food sits within the wider school's catering arrangements. Norse provides a three-week menu with a vegetarian choice among the daily hot meals, plus a packed-lunch option. Its allergy provision includes a menu excluding the top 14 allergens; for an allergy outside that group, Norse can create an individual menu. This gives families with dietary requirements a specific catering route.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Reception registration is directed to Norfolk admissions at admissions@norfolk.gov.uk, while nursery enquiries go to the school office.

There is a concrete example of contact between the two year groups: nursery children visited Reception to see chicks, including those in the incubator, and to hold and stroke one. That is a shared learning experience, not an admissions advantage.

The morning session runs from 8.30am to 11.30am; the full-day session finishes at 2.30pm after the same morning start. The earlier finish matters when planning collection alongside other commitments.

For nursery enquiries, email office@queenshill.norfolk.sch.uk or telephone 01603 746857. For journeys by car, parents must park away from school: neither staff car park can be used for collection or drop-off. A cycle rack and scooter park provide storage for families travelling on wheels.