Sycamore Academy Nursery Review

Storytelling, singing and outdoor play give Sycamore’s youngest children plenty to do in a three-hour session. At Abbotsford Drive in St Ann’s, Nottingham, the school manages both provision for two-year-olds and a nursery for children aged 3–4. Foundation 1 uses the names Seedlings and Saplings.

Each age group has its own classroom and outdoor play space. The two-year-old classroom sits beside the nursery, and children take part in activities together. That gives the move between groups a practical starting point: familiar children, nearby rooms and shared experiences.

Play carries the learning. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the emphasis here includes talking and listening, relationships, managing feelings and physical development. For parents, that means conversation and movement matter alongside early literacy and maths. The nursery aims to help children tell stories, explain their ideas and become more independent.

Painting, shared stories, singing and outdoor activities feature in both age groups. The dedicated play areas give children space to explore alongside others of the same age. Physical activities address small movements needed for writing as well as larger movements involving coordination and balance.

Saplings’ story work has included Goldilocks and The Three Bears, with porridge-making and retelling through speech and actions. Shark in the park prompted activities about sharks and their habitats. These are concrete examples of a story becoming a starting point for talking, making and investigating.

Learning also extends beyond the classroom. Foundation 1 classes have opportunities to visit St Anns Community Orchard twice a year, bringing the local environment into their learning. In Seedlings, past activities have included experimenting with drums and a family rhyme session led by Small Steps, Big Changes.

At the June 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that nursery children were developing listening skills and learning to distinguish sounds. However, curriculum delivery needed greater consistency in some subjects, with the improvement action explicitly including early years. Families should weigh the detailed play provision alongside that teaching concern.

The early years team includes a nursery teacher, an EYFS phase leader and a leader for the two-year-old provision. During June 2024, children’s positive start in early years was linked to relationships with families, enjoyable activities and predictable routines. Those routines give young children a clearer sense of what happens next.

For two-year-olds, snacks include fruit and milk, with water provided too. Families send nappies, wipes, spare clothes and clothing suited to outdoor play, keeping everyday care needs alongside the learning activities.

Class Dojo carries academy news and events to parents. The SENDCo can also be contacted through ClassDojo or the school office, giving families a direct route to discuss additional needs. At school level, June 2024 findings identified inconsistent curriculum adaptations for some pupils with SEND, limiting their fluency and independence. Parents considering additional support should discuss how it will help their child participate and work increasingly independently.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Nottingham City Council’s normal application route and meet the normal deadline. Treat that application as a separate step from arranging nursery sessions.

Shared activities with Reception children help nursery children become familiar with the next stage, including its room layout. This supports familiarity and transition; it does not secure admission.

Both age groups offer 15 funded hours per week through a choice of morning or afternoon sessions. During term time, mornings run from 8.45am to 11.45am and afternoons from 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Each session lasts three hours, so these timings matter when planning work and other childcare.

Wraparound care. Paid care sits outside funded hours and is currently unavailable for two-year-olds. Families needing a longer day should account for that restriction.

Nursery enquiries and applications go to the school office on 0115 915 5804. Visits can be arranged for parents, carers and children, with a classroom and outdoor-area tour and an opportunity to meet the team. Contact the office to agree a suitable date and time, and refer to the school for current charges.