Acorn Nursery at St Michael's

Three session patterns give Acorn Nursery a practical starting point: mornings, afternoons or a full day ending at 3pm. It is the nursery provision within St Michael's Church of England VA Primary and Nursery School, taking children from age three. Families can choose a shorter session or a day that spans both morning and afternoon.

At the Ofsted inspection on 8 and 9 November 2023, early years provision received a Good judgement. This applies to the school's early years provision rather than a separate nursery inspection.

Morning attendance runs from 9am to noon, with afternoons continuing from noon until 3pm. A full day covers 9am to 3pm. Children attending in the afternoon can join lunch at noon, making the meal part of that session's starting routine.

Learning has a planned sequence. In November 2023, the curriculum across Nursery and the older school years identified both the content to teach and its order; achievement across that span was positive. There was also a school-wide weakness: concepts beyond reading and mathematics needed more repetition, including personal, social and health education. For families, remembering learning over time matters alongside encountering new ideas.

Children were settling successfully in early years in November 2023. Before a child starts nursery, families are contacted during the preceding term with session options and details of welcome sessions. That gives the move into nursery a preparatory stage before regular attendance begins.

Support for special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) was part of the teaching approach across Nursery and the older years in November 2023. Staff received information about children's needs and adjusted teaching accordingly, with additional help contributing to achievement. The practical significance is support within learning, tailored to the child.

Attending Acorn Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at St Michael's. Nursery entry and Reception admission are separate processes: families must make another application through the normal Reception admissions route by its deadline. Choosing nursery should therefore be a decision about this stage of childhood, with the later school application treated separately.

Registration of interest goes to the early years lead at EYFSLead@pathfinders.norfolk.sch.uk, or can be handed into the school reception. The school then contacts families in the term before their intended start to discuss available sessions.

Funded attendance includes a 15-hour entitlement and 30 hours for eligible working families. Funding begins in the term following the relevant birthday. The 15-hour allocation can be used flexibly across days, allowing families to shape attendance around their requirements.

Funding administration. Families using 30-hour funding need an eligibility code before the term begins and must renew it every three months. If the code is not renewed in time, funding automatically stops for that term, even if it is renewed later.

Additional attendance. Paid sessions are an option for children who do not qualify for the additional funded hours. Annual funding limits can also leave extra hours chargeable; families can instead miss the affected sessions. Contact the school for current charges.