Sprowston Infant School Nursery

Child-led play and short carpet sessions shape the nursery at Sprowston Infant School. This is on-site provision within the infant school in Sprowston, Norwich, with children admitted from two and a half. A nursery room lead works alongside nursery practitioners, giving the provision its own team structure within the wider school.

Independence is a clear aim. The school’s Six Cs extend into nursery: curiosity, communication, confidence, collaboration, creativity and craftsmanship. These are qualities the school aims to develop through everyday learning, rather than separate lessons. For a young child, that means space to pursue an idea, talk it through and try again.

Play provides the starting point, with adults adding direction. The nursery follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and uses Continuous Provision through the Early Excellence Curriculum Model. In parent terms, resources remain accessible for children to revisit during play, while adults watch what interests them and use conversation, questions and demonstrations to extend their learning.

Indoor and outdoor learning spaces support this approach. Extra resources introduce particular themes or help children practise a skill; Diwali and Bonfire night are examples used in the early years. Returning to familiar materials gives children opportunities to test ideas over time, while additions offer a fresh reason to explore.

Carpet time brings children together for stories, personal and social learning, rhymes and First Steps to Phonics. These adult-led moments sit alongside play rather than replacing it. Children needing extra help also have small-group teaching, commonly focused on speech and language.

Adults are expected to notice children who hang back or repeatedly avoid particular learning. The approach therefore combines choice with attention to what each child needs to practise. In May 2025, Ofsted found that the curriculum established a learning sequence beginning in nursery and that adults developed children’s vocabulary. A school-wide improvement point concerned activities in some subjects that emphasised facts too heavily; children needed more opportunities to connect and use their knowledge.

Language support is part of the nursery’s teaching arrangements. Small groups give children additional practice with speech and communication, while the wider school uses signing and PECS to support expression. This gives adults more than one way to help children communicate their needs and ideas.

In May 2025, the youngest children were becoming self-reliant and confident, joining shared lunches and practising sharing and turn-taking. Those routines matter alongside learning activities: eating with others and waiting for a turn are practical steps towards managing a group day.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at Sprowston Infant School. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Choosing the nursery and securing a school place are separate decisions.

The nursery is on the school site at Recreation Ground Road, Sprowston, Norwich, NR7 8EW. Enquiries can go through the school office on 01603 429001. Families can also contact the office to arrange a visit, providing an opportunity to look around and discuss the nursery before choosing it.