The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Pinewood Infant and Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Kittens, caterpillars and an art exhibition give Pinewood’s nursery its own character. Known as Foundation 1, or F1, the Kittens are the youngest children in this Arnold school. Children can start in the term following their third birthday, with morning attendance and some children staying for the day through funded childcare.
This is nursery provision within Pinewood Infant and Nursery School. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding at the inspection on 14 and 15 November 2023; that judgement covers early years rather than being a separate nursery rating.
Two three-hour sessions shape the nursery day: mornings run from 8:30am to 11:30am, and afternoons from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Children attending both have a separate lunchtime interval between them. That distinction matters when planning a continuous day of care.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum combines learning indoors and outside. Pinewood’s early years team used Development Matters and Birth to 5 Matters to develop it around the children’s needs. The school aims to expand vocabulary, return to familiar books and give children opportunities to practise skills. For parents, the emphasis is on language and repeated experience, alongside curiosity and creativity.
Actual nursery activities put some detail behind those aims. June 2026 brought Water Day, while May featured caterpillars and butterflies and February an art exhibition. A visit from Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue took place in November 2025. These give children experiences to talk about, observe and represent through art. Designing and making also begin in nursery, with exploration and guided projects giving children ways to test their ideas.
The wider school site includes a library bus and a pond. The bus has books spanning poetry, fiction and non-fiction, with classes allocated time there during the week. It gives reading a distinctive physical setting.
Starting early years was judged highly effective in November 2023. This provides a dated endorsement of the move into the setting. Communication with families uses Class DoJo, letters, email and text messages, giving parents several ways to keep in touch.
For children with additional needs, parents can arrange a discussion with the school. The special educational needs co-ordinator supports families and helps co-ordinate outside agencies. That creates a practical route for discussing support before a child starts.
Qualified teachers and support staff cover the educational day, with additional midday supervisors responsible for lunchtime care. Food is prepared daily using fresh produce, and children have a choice of meals. F1 children attending a full day pay for school dinners; packed lunches are also permitted, subject to the school’s healthy eating requirements.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. The route for full-time school admission is Nottinghamshire County Council school admissions. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.
Every child has a universal entitlement of 15 hours from the term after their third birthday. Eligible families may access 30 funded hours across 38 term-time weeks. Pinewood has a limited number of 30-hour places, combining funded entitlement places with paid Acorn provision. Families seeking extended funding must apply for their eligibility code in the term before the child’s third birthday.
Lunchtime care. The 45-minute interval, from 11:30am to 12:15pm, sits outside funded education and carries a childcare charge if used. Families can instead collect at 11:30am and bring their child back at 12:15pm. Ask the school for current charges when arranging attendance.
Breakfast Club accepts children aged 3 to 7 from 7:30am on school days; children need to be there by 8:15am to receive breakfast. The Lime Trees provides after-school care for Foundation-aged children, ending at 5:45pm, with collection from Pinewood’s hall.
Nursery registration is encouraged at 2.5 years old, by requesting an application pack from the office. Visits can also be arranged through the office on 0115 9521717 or office@pinewood.notts.sch.uk.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday. Pinewood encourages registration at 2.5 years old through an application pack from the school office.
Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoon sessions run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Lunchtime care is separate.
There is a universal 15-hour entitlement, with limited 30-hour places for eligible families over 38 term-time weeks. Lunchtime childcare falls outside funded education hours and is charged if used.
F1 children attending a full day can have a charged school dinner. A packed lunch is also an option and must follow the school’s healthy eating requirements.
No. A separate Reception application is required through the normal admissions process. Full-time school admission is handled through Nottinghamshire County Council school admissions.
