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Nursery at Cotgrave Candleby Lane School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
An outdoor Little Library and an enquiry into what makes each child themselves give Candleby Lane’s nursery a clear character: books, conversation and learning about family life. This is the school’s teacher-led nursery, also called F1, for children from the term after their third birthday. Little Kites Playgroup shares the premises but operates separately and has no affiliation with the school.
Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 6 and 7 December 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school. Children’s established routines and enthusiasm for learning were strengths in December 2023, giving families a picture of purposeful early education.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together communication, physical development, relationships and early learning. Here, those strands connect through enquiry. In autumn 2025, children explored What makes Me, Me?, using stories about themselves and their families to consider differences between people. Owl babies was among the books chosen. Familiar experiences give young children something concrete to talk about.
Early reading starts with listening and speaking. Nursery children follow Teeny Reading Seeds, alongside Phase One activities such as storytelling, singing and music. Work on rhyme, percussion made with the body and recognising sounds builds attention before later reading instruction. The emphasis is on hearing and using language.
Books also travel home. The F1 Little Library sits in the outdoor area, where parents and children can select something to share together. It creates a practical link between nursery reading and time at home.
The school’s LOVE approach combines remembering learning, developing spoken language, values and learning through experience. In nursery, practical number work includes sorting, sequencing and counting objects individually. Drawing and making marks let children attach meaning to what they create. These are tangible ways to begin understanding number and expressing ideas.
Independence is part of the learning. Nursery work includes managing the toilet, washing and drying hands, and caring for teeth. Families bring a named water bottle, and packed lunches must exclude nut products. Meals are not automatically included; hot lunches can be purchased separately. Food therefore needs to be planned alongside the session choice.
The school adapts both teaching and the learning environment for children with SEND. Where a child needs a support plan, parents participate in the discussion, and additional help can involve individual or small-group work. Families can contact the SENCO through the school office. School messages also reach parents through Arbor, keeping communication accessible through the app.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must submit a separate application through their home local authority by the normal primary deadline of 15 January. Nursery enrolment and the Reception application are separate decisions, so parents need to keep the school application on their calendar even when their child already attends here.
When applications exceed the places available, allocation follows the school’s admission criteria. Choosing the nursery should therefore rest on the nursery experience itself, with the Reception application handled separately.
Morning sessions run from 8:40am to 11:40am; afternoons are 12:20pm to 3:20pm. A full day runs from 8:40am to 3:20pm. The 15-hour funded pattern covers five mornings or five afternoons, while 30-hour funding covers five full days. Children holding a valid 30-hour code receive preference for full-time places.
Starts are generally in September, January or April, with other entry points possible where the nursery can accommodate them. Flexibility is an aim rather than an unconditional booking promise: full-time requests take priority. Lunch care carries an additional charge, and families should obtain current charges from the school.
An online nursery application and visits are available. Contact the office at office@candlebylane.co.uk or on 0115 989 2284 to make an enquiry.
Children can join from the term after their third birthday. Starts are generally in September, January or April, although other times may be possible.
Mornings run from 8:40am to 11:40am, afternoons from 12:20pm to 3:20pm, and full days from 8:40am to 3:20pm.
Children follow Teeny Reading Seeds and take part in Phase One activities, including storytelling, singing and music, to develop speaking and listening skills.
Meals are not included as standard. Hot meals are available for a separate charge, and packed lunches must contain no nut products. Lunch care also carries a charge.
No. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority by the normal primary deadline of 15 January.
