Sunnyside Spencer Academy Nursery

Stories, seeds and sound-making give Sunnyside’s nursery curriculum its character. The nursery belongs to Sunnyside Spencer Academy on Great Hoggett Drive in Chilwell, with morning and afternoon nursery sessions.

Early years provision was graded Outstanding at the Ofsted inspection of 5 and 6 November 2024. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision. Staff’s experience and attention to children’s individual interests and needs were central to the positive early years findings, giving families a concrete reason to look beyond the grade.

The shared FS1 and FS2 curriculum combines physical development, personal and social learning, stories, music and exploration of the world. In parent terms, learning involves using hands and bodies as well as talking and listening. Threading and work with scissors sit alongside dance and ball activities, giving children different ways to practise movement and control.

Books lead into things children can make and do. The shared curriculum includes Once upon a time and Habitats: retelling a fairy tale and creating a minibeast fact file give those themes a practical purpose. Outdoor minibeast hunting connects the animal theme to direct observation. Growing plants from seed turns change into something children can follow for themselves.

For nursery’s FS1 personal and social learning, Marvellous me!, Valuing Difference and Keeping Safe bring the focus closer to home. Children explore friendship, family and the people who help protect them. This gives everyday relationships a place alongside the creative and physical activities.

In November 2024, early years staff were experienced and caring, adapting provision after getting to know each child. The emphasis was personal: children’s interests mattered alongside their needs.

Support for special educational needs and disabilities sits within the school’s SEND arrangements. Families, teaching staff and the SEND coordinator work together, with agreed targets, interventions and review meetings. This gives parents a role in planning support and checking how it is working. For everyday concerns, the class teacher is the first contact; office staff can arrange an appointment.

Food provision across the school includes Magic Breakfast, with toast or bagels in classrooms and cereal or toast at Breakfast Club. These are school arrangements rather than a description of a nursery lunch routine.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families need to make a separate Reception application through their child’s home local authority, following the normal application timetable. Treat choosing nursery and securing Reception as two separate decisions.

Morning Nursery runs from 8:50am to 11:50am, with drop-off between 8:40am and 8:50am. Afternoon Nursery runs from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, followed by a collection window until 3:40pm. Those small windows give families some flexibility around the session boundaries.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 0115 917 4310 or email info@sunnysidespencer.org.uk. The school is at Great Hoggett Drive, Chilwell, Nottingham, NG9 4HQ.