The Glapton Academy Nursery

A large, bright nursery and activities centred on language, movement and relationships give Glapton’s youngest children a distinct starting point within the academy. Funded places cover 15 or 30 hours. This is school nursery provision in Clifton, Nottingham, with the academy’s age range starting at three.

The nursery belongs to the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), supported by an early years teaching team. Juniper and Walnut are the named early years classes. For families choosing a school setting, that places nursery learning within a wider early years structure.

Communication, physical skills and emotional development are the nursery’s stated activity priorities. In everyday parent language, the emphasis is on learning to express yourself, use your body and build relationships. These are foundations for taking part in learning alongside other children.

Indoor and outdoor play both feature in early years activities. A rainforest topic has included making artwork, investigating jungle animals and learning about their habitat. It gives children a concrete subject to explore through creative work and discovery, rather than treating learning as separate exercises.

The shared F1 and F2 timetable includes continuous provision during the morning and afternoon, alongside registration, learning periods and lunch. That gives the early years day a recognisable structure while retaining time for play activities.

In March 2023, Ofsted found that the early years curriculum followed a carefully ordered sequence, with knowledge broken into manageable steps which children mastered. The practical significance is progression: activities form part of learning that prepares children for their next stage.

Early years staffing includes class teachers and teaching assistants, with an EYFS lead who also leads oracy. That gives spoken language a named place in the team’s responsibilities, alongside the nursery’s focus on communication.

Class Dojo connects families and teachers around children’s learning, with Juniper and Walnut both included. It offers parents a way to share in classroom experiences beyond conversations with their child.

For safeguarding concerns, parents can contact a designated safeguarding lead through the school office. The school also has a SEND coordinator. These provide clear roles for families raising concerns about safety or additional needs.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process, rather than treating nursery attendance as an allocation.

The application route is Nottingham City Council, either online or by telephone. Keep that application separate from discussions with the nursery team about starting nursery: the two decisions serve different purposes.

The nursery offers 15 and 30 hour funded places. To apply or book a visit to meet the nursery team, speak with the school team. The office can be reached on 0115 915 2936; the academy is on Glapton Lane, Clifton.