Crabtree Farm Primary School Nursery Review

Morning, afternoon or full-time attendance gives Crabtree Farm’s nursery three distinct patterns for children aged 3–4. The nursery forms part of Crabtree Farm Primary School, with collection through the Early Years Centre. This is school-based provision with its own nursery registration process.

At the inspection on 3 and 4 October 2023, Ofsted judged early years provision Good. Children were learning to cooperate through play, while phonics began from their entry into early years. Those findings give the nursery’s day a clear focus: learning alongside other children and taking the first steps towards reading.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guides nursery learning. Here, that includes playing together, practising cooperation and beginning phonics. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school’s phonics programme, giving early reading a named teaching approach.

In October 2023, early years children played contentedly and developed the skills needed to work with one another. Reading teaching introduced phonics from the start of early years. Together, these details show attention to both social learning and the sounds children need for reading.

For afternoon nursery, classroom doors open at 12:15 pm, allowing time to settle before learning starts at 12:25 pm. Morning nursery finishes at noon; the Early Years home time is 3:25 pm. Labelled coat and bag hooks give each child a place for their belongings. Naming those items helps staff return them to the right child.

Daily milk and fruit are provided for Early Years children, and children are encouraged to bring a water bottle bearing their name. Sweets, fizzy drinks and crisps are excluded from school. These are concrete routines families can build into packing and preparing for the day.

Eat Culture, Nottingham Catering provides the school’s meal service. Allergen information and a special diet form give families a practical way to communicate dietary requirements. The meal arrangements sit alongside the daily fruit and milk routine.

Day-to-day exchanges are the school’s main approach to partnership with parents, with feedback encouraged in both directions. Staff take children’s welfare worries seriously and encourage them to speak about concerns. For families, that makes everyday conversations about a child’s experience an important part of the relationship with the teaching team.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Nottingham City Council coordinates Reception admissions, while the school handles nursery registration. Choosing a nursery session and applying for a school place are therefore separate decisions.

Part-time morning or afternoon places use the universal funded entitlement of 15 hours for children aged 3–4. Full-time places are available to children aged 3–4 who qualify for 30 funded hours because one or both parents or carers work. The eligibility condition matters when choosing between the attendance patterns.

To register interest, visit the school office and complete a registration form. Enquiries can also be made by telephone on 0115 9155737 or by email to admin@crabtreefarm.nottingham.sch.uk. Visits can be arranged through the office.

Uniform is required, but a school logo is optional. Colours include grey or black bottoms and navy or white tops; nearly-new clothing is available through the office. At collection, Early Years parents and carers go into the Early Years Centre to collect from class, giving this part of the day a clear handover point.