Albany Infant and Nursery School Nursery Review

Songs, conversation and learning to share give Acorns Nursery its character. This is the nursery within Albany Infant and Nursery School on Grenville Drive in Stapleford, with early language woven into both play and focused teaching. Children can start on the Monday after turning three, an arrangement introduced from September 2025.

Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good at its September 2022 inspection. That judgement covers the early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The useful distinction for parents is between the nursery's everyday provision and the wider school's performance.

Play chosen by children sits alongside adult-led teaching and small-group activities. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, move, manage feelings, explore numbers and books, understand the world and create. Albany uses Development Matters and Birth to Five to guide its curriculum, giving these early experiences a planned sequence rather than treating play as a break from learning.

Language gets a daily slot. Super Sounds introduces rhymes, songs, recurring phrases and the syllables within words; children move to Little Wandle Foundations when they are ready. The emphasis is on preparing the listening and speaking skills that later reading needs. Alongside this, staff work on finger control, physical strength, attention and friendships. These are practical foundations for joining activities and becoming more independent.

Indoor and outdoor activities are accessible through the EYFS provision, with adults helping children collaborate and extending their talk. Resources and displays receive enhancements twice a week to respond to children's interests. In September 2022, the indoor early years spaces supported calm learning, and nursery children practised sharing and taking turns; adults used pretend telephone conversations to develop language.

Outdoor learning. In September 2022, learning outside progressed more slowly because activities lacked sufficiently clear learning goals. Leaders needed to sharpen expectations for what children would understand and retain outdoors. For families, the important question is what outdoor play teaches as well as how much time children spend outside.

Settling begins with an accompanied nursery visit and stay-and-play opportunities. A familiar adult can remain alongside the child while they explore the setting and try routines such as carpet activities and indoor or outdoor play. Staff also get to know the family before the start date. This gives the transition from home a gradual beginning.

Class Dojo carries class messages three times a week, and parents can contact staff directly through it. Conversations at collection or drop-off offer another route. Families are also invited to stay-and-play sessions and reading events, so communication includes opportunities to take part in nursery life.

Additional EYFS support includes WellComm for speech and language, Funky fingers activities and individual or group emotional literacy support through ELSA. The school works with families and partner agencies where children need extra help. These provide different routes into support according to the child's needs.

For children staying all day, a lunch club bridges the two nursery sessions. Under-fives qualify for free milk through Cool Milk, with fresh chilled milk offered each day. Albany also operates a no-nut rule, an important consideration when preparing food to bring from home.

Attending Acorns Nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Nottinghamshire County Council's Schools Admission Hub and meet the normal Reception application deadline. Nursery applications go through the school office, so the two processes need separate attention. Familiarity with the school should not be mistaken for an allocated place.

Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Many children take 15 hours a week through either morning or afternoon attendance. Eligible families can use the all-day 30-hour provision. Additional sessions can be bought by families who do not qualify for that free provision; contact the school for current charges. Flexible arrangements are also offered, with the office discussing families' requirements.

Bring children to the nursery entrance at the session's start, wait outside for staff to invite families in, and collect from the same point. Uniform is optional in nursery. Easy fastenings and manageable shoes support independence, and aprons are provided for messy activities.

For nursery enquiries, email enquiries@albany-inf.notts.sch.uk or telephone 0115 9179212. Prospective families can also arrange a visit through the school's visit contact form.