Parklands Infant and Nursery School Nursery Review

Outdoor movement, a weekly PE session and programmable bee-bots give Parklands’ nursery day a practical flavour. This is the nursery provision within Parklands Infant and Nursery School on Derby Road in Long Eaton. Morning and afternoon sessions each run for three hours, giving families two distinct parts of the day to consider.

The Parklands Person ethos gives children a shared set of expectations: kindness and respect sit alongside politeness, positivity, safety and a sense that each child matters. Those ideas connect everyday behaviour with learning to be part of a group.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning about the world with physical development and opportunities to explore. Parklands uses the Learning Challenge Curriculum alongside this framework. Science begins through observation, questions and problem solving: children consider what might happen, make choices and discuss their discoveries. History introduces language about the past through stories and vocabulary. These are starting points for conversation, rather than simply subject labels.

Movement has both an everyday and a scheduled place. The early years outdoor provision supports larger body movements, while ongoing activities develop smaller movements too. Nursery children also have a weekly PE session. That gives physical learning a regular place beyond the activities children encounter through play.

Interactive boards, iPads with painting programmes and bee-bots provide different ways to experiment with technology. Adults demonstrate how resources work, and children can explore the programmable toys independently. Smartie the Penguin introduces online safety, linking the use of equipment with learning how to use it safely.

In March 2025, Ofsted described purposeful early years activities and adults who extended children’s vocabulary while demonstrating skills. Children developed concentration and learned to cooperate through play. There was also a school-wide improvement point about making opportunities to revisit learning more consistent across subjects. For parents, the distinction matters: purposeful activities need repetition as well as new experiences.

Parents can speak with teachers around drop-off or collection, or telephone a member of staff. School open sessions and stay-and-play activities give families further opportunities to participate in children’s learning. These provide routes for sharing concerns and understanding what children do.

Support sits within the wider infant and nursery school. Its nurture group follows the Derbyshire Nurture Group model, and a trained Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) provides individual nurture support. Behaviour Box and Positive Play are also used to help children understand and manage their behaviour.

For children with SEND, teachers consider classroom organisation, teaching methods and learning materials when adapting provision. The school’s Early Help Offer extends support to family concerns, including morning routines, bereavement and housing difficulties. All support staff have first-aid training.

Attending Parklands nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal Reception admissions process by its deadline. Treat that application as a separate decision from choosing nursery sessions.

Several transition days take place during the summer term to help children move into school and between classes. This familiarisation supports the change in routines; it does not secure an admission place.

Morning nursery runs from 9am to noon; afternoon nursery runs from noon to 3pm. Compare these session boundaries with your family’s daily schedule before choosing a pattern.

Uniform is encouraged from nursery onwards, but it is optional. Red tops are paired with grey or black bottoms, and clothing should be labelled. A scooter parking area beside the nursery buildings allows scooters to remain securely at school during the day.

For enquiries, telephone 0115 973 2667 or email enquiries@parklands.derbyshire.sch.uk. School tours can be booked by telephone, giving families an opportunity to see the provision before making their decision.