Rise Park Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Story corners, puppets and construction play give Rise Park’s nursery a clear emphasis on language through play. This is the nursery within Rise Park Primary and Nursery School in Nottingham, with learning planned across indoor and outdoor classrooms. Books extend beyond the reading corner: role play, building and model making give children other ways to develop and tell stories.

The March 2026 Ofsted judgement for the school’s early years was Expected standard. That covers the early years phase rather than a separate nursery inspection. Children formed friendships and settled promptly, although participation in planned learning needed closer checking.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines learning chosen by children with activities led by adults. Early emphasis falls on communication and personal, social and emotional development: expressing ideas, building relationships and learning to participate. Group activities and supported play give staff opportunities to check understanding, while exploration allows children to pursue their interests.

Maths Mastery has an explicitly nursery-specific application. Daily experiences introduce counting, quantities, sorting and shapes through routines, stories, number rhymes and problems. Practical objects give children something to handle as they explore mathematical ideas, rather than relying only on spoken explanations.

Story corners have props and puppets for retelling familiar tales. Small-world resources, easels, construction space and model-making materials support imaginative play and conversation. Learning takes place outside as well as indoors, giving children different spaces in which to explore the curriculum.

Jigsaw sessions include relationships, health and recognising differences. Friendship learning also has concrete examples: during Anti-Bullying Week in November 2023, nursery children used role play to explore kind and unkind actions and rehearsed how to object when someone upset them. This makes social learning something children can practise during play.

Participation needs attention. In March 2026, adults often extended vocabulary through conversation, but leaders did not consistently check that each child benefited from planned activities and adult interaction. Families should consider how staff involve children who are less likely to join in independently.

Settling was a positive early years finding in March 2026: support for families helped children begin school, make friends and enjoy playing together. Staff also identified additional needs accurately, giving a concrete basis for planning support.

Before a child starts, the special educational needs co-ordinator and/or headteacher meets parents to discuss additional needs and how to meet them. Routes to Inclusion provides a structured approach to identifying, assessing and supporting needs. These arrangements give families a starting point for discussing their child’s individual circumstances.

Parent meetings, workshops and stay-and-play sessions connect families with children’s learning and development. Staff development includes early years training where appropriate, with coaching and feedback from the phase leader supporting teaching practice.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. Nottingham City Council’s School Applications service is the route for school admission and appeal information. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0115 9153775 or email admin@risepark.nottingham.sch.uk. Rise Park follows Nottingham City Council’s holiday calendar, so that calendar helps families organise around school holidays.