Robert Shaw Primary and Nursery School: Nursery Review

Seed-planting, new words and books give Robert Shaw’s early years provision its character. The nursery has 52 places within Robert Shaw Primary and Nursery School in Nottingham, with children starting after they turn three. Known as F1, it offers part-time morning and afternoon sessions. This is a nursery organised around shorter sessions, a practical consideration for families planning childcare around work.

Ofsted’s March 2026 inspection graded early years at Expected standard. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision rather than giving the nursery a separate rating.

Language has a practical purpose here. In March 2026, a seed-planting activity connected the words soil, plant and trowel with what children were doing. It is a useful example of learning through an activity: children encounter words alongside the objects and actions they describe. Books also have a central role in early years learning, with parents involved in encouraging reading. The emphasis is on developing an interest in books from the beginning.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum identifies milestones and the vocabulary children should learn. In parent terms, staff have specific learning points to look for, rather than simply keeping children occupied. Children were making positive progress in March 2026, and those falling behind received help to catch up. Adults generally used questions to check understanding and develop independence; children were eager to discuss their learning with adults and one another.

There is a qualification to that positive picture. Some adult support was less useful, and the quality of interactions varied. Consistency in those everyday exchanges remains something for families to consider.

Mathematics is taught daily in nursery using White Rose Hub resources. Personal, social and health education also starts in nursery, using Coram Life Education’s SCARF curriculum. These give early learning named approaches alongside the focus on language and books.

Class Dojo connects classroom life with home through photographs, videos and messages. Parents can contact teachers directly, while email and text are also used for school communication. Staff aim to reply to messages within 24 hours, although messages outside working hours may wait until the next working day. That distinction helps parents judge when to expect a response.

For children needing additional help, the school monitors progress and involves parents in support plans and their reviews. Teaching assistant support may be individual or in small groups where needed, and other agencies may be involved. The SEND coordinator is the first contact for concerns, reached through the school office. This gives families a clear route into a discussion about their child’s needs.

Early Years children can have milk at playtime, with free milk for under-fives. A free fruit or vegetable snack is provided at morning break, and drinking water is accessible during the day. The milk entitlement is one drink daily per child.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process; nursery children do not move into the main school automatically.

For September 2027 entry, the application deadline is 15 January 2027. Nottingham City residents can apply online or return a paper Common Application Form to the council’s School Admissions Team. The local authority sends the offer directly to families. Treat that application as a separate task from arranging nursery attendance.

A summer-term welcome meeting for new Reception families includes school-readiness information. This prepares parents for the next stage, separately from the decision about allocating a place.

Morning nursery runs from 08:30 to 11:30. Afternoon sessions run from 12:30 to 15:30 and begin in the spring term. Drop-off and collection use the Dorothy Grove gate, giving nursery families a specific entrance to use.

An in-house waiting list handles nursery applications, and children can be added after they turn two for a start after three. Contact the school office for nursery application details on 0115 9155765 or at admin@robertshaw.nottingham.sch.uk.

Childcare hours. The nursery offers part-time sessions. The school’s breakfast club accepts children from Reception onwards, so it does not extend the nursery morning for younger children.