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Nursery at Ladycross Infant 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Big movements, play dough and stories give Ladycross nursery its character. Children practise early writing through Squiggle whilst you wiggle, strengthen their fingers with Dough Disco and explore sounds through Super sounds. This is the school's own nursery provision on Victoria Road in Sandiacre, with early education for three- and four-year-olds.
Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 10 and 11 December 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning here combines practical play with small-group teaching. Numberblocks and Power Maths support early mathematics, while children practise counting objects individually, estimating quantities and recording amounts with marks. Sand, water and imaginative play give those ideas a practical setting: numbers become something children can explore as well as recognise.
Movement provides another route into learning. Squiggle whilst you wiggle begins with large movements in the air before children try them on chalkboards, paper or materials they can mould. Dough Disco adds squeezing, twisting and pinching activities to exercise fingers. Both give children practice with the movements involved in making marks. Balanceability sessions take place in Foundation 1, introducing learning to cycle alongside physical coordination.
Stories and listening have a clear place too. Foundation 1 uses Super sounds for phase 1 phonics, and songs help children explore rhythm and rhyme. A Bedtime bear goes home with a different child each day for shared stories, which children then talk about. The December 2024 findings describe nursery children enjoying songs, rhymes and storytelling, with effective support for communication and language. Early years children approached learning with curiosity and confidence.
Before joining, children and parents are invited to stay and play together. This gives families a shared introduction to nursery life. In December 2024, early years staff helped children establish habits and routines that supported concentration and working together.
Food provision includes a charged hot lunch and fruit. Cool Milk supplies a chilled, semi-skimmed portion each day; nursery children under five receive it free and the school handles their registration. Children whose notified dietary requirements or allergies exclude milk are removed from registration. There is no substitute for cow's milk, so families affected by that restriction need to account for it.
SEND support sits within the school's wider provision. Teaching assistants have training in Makaton and PECs, alongside approaches including Attention Autism and Intensive Interaction. Individual support is planned with families and other professionals where needed. That gives parents a role in shaping support around their child's needs, rather than treating an intervention as a fixed package.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal council process and meet the deadline for their child's entry year. Derbyshire County Council manages Ladycross Reception applications; families living outside Derbyshire apply through their home council. For September 2026 entry, the deadline was 15 January 2026.
Preparation is a separate matter. Ladycross's starting-school guidance encourages families to practise self-care and turn-taking gradually at home. For children with additional needs, it recommends sharing information about development, useful strategies and possible difficulties with the new teacher. These steps support preparation; they do not secure admission.
All three- and four-year-olds can access 15 funded hours each week, while eligible working families may qualify for 30. Additional morning or afternoon sessions can be purchased, up to 15 extra hours weekly. Meals and fruit carry separate charges; contact the school for current charges.
Funding renewal. Families using the 30-hour entitlement must reconfirm their HMRC code every three months. If a missed renewal prevents funding being claimed, attended sessions become payable, and reinstatement does not refund the unfunded period. Put renewal dates in the family calendar.
Contact the office on 01159397379 or email info@ladycross.derbyshire.sch.uk for nursery registration. Families can also telephone to arrange a nursery visit before applying.
Ladycross provides nursery early education for three- and four-year-olds.
Squiggle whilst you wiggle uses large movements before mark-making, while Dough Disco exercises fingers with play dough.
Three- and four-year-olds can access 15 hours weekly. Working families meeting the eligibility criteria may qualify for 30 hours and must reconfirm their code every three months.
No. Reception requires a separate council application. Derbyshire residents apply through Derbyshire County Council; families elsewhere apply through their home council.
Yes. Telephone the school to arrange a nursery visit. Parents and children are also invited to stay and play before joining.
