Ambleside Primary School Nursery

Conversation gives Ambleside’s early years provision its character: adults help children explain their thinking, while children learn to encourage one another. The nursery belongs to Ambleside Primary School on Minver Crescent in Aspley, Nottingham, within Raleigh Education Trust. It can cater to 68 places across morning and afternoon sessions.

At the inspection on 18 and 19 March 2025, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years within the school. For parents considering the nursery, the relevant strengths are attentive teaching, positive relationships and support that responds to individual children.

Thinking and talking are closely connected here. In March 2025, adults used conversations to extend children’s ideas and help them describe what they were learning. This gives spoken language a practical purpose: children have adult support to put their thoughts into words rather than simply complete an activity.

Activities sustained children’s interest, and their involvement in learning was strong. Alongside this, children collaborated and offered one another encouragement. Learning therefore includes practising how to work with other people, as well as developing understanding. Adults monitored children’s progress through the curriculum closely, providing a basis for responding to individual needs. The distinctive feature is the interaction around the activity: staff pay attention to what children understand and help them think further.

Relationships provide an important foundation for learning. In March 2025, children had affectionate, constructive relationships with adults and peers, and staff gave individual needs careful attention. Expectations for settling and achievement were high. For a young child, these findings connect emotional security with participation: familiar, supportive adults help make learning a shared experience.

Beyond the nursery team, Raleigh Education Trust works with Nottingham’s Educational Psychology Service, Autism Team and SALT Team. These are trust partnerships, rather than a promise that each nursery child receives a particular service. The Trust’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Network aims to help children participate alongside their peers and express their views about the support they receive.

That emphasis gives inclusion a practical direction: participation and the child’s voice matter alongside progress. The Trust also aims to help school communities respond to emotional difficulties through its Pupil Wellbeing Network.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at Ambleside. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat choosing a nursery session and applying for Reception as separate decisions. Enjoying nursery life here does not, by itself, secure the next school place.

Morning and afternoon sessions give the nursery a session-based structure. For nursery enquiries, contact Ambleside Primary School on 0115 900 3610. The school is on Minver Crescent, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 5PN. This provides a direct school contact for families considering the provision.