The Nottingham Nursery School and Training Centre: Nursery Review

A Forest Garden with bridges, willow tunnels and an orchard gives Nottingham Nursery a distinctive outdoor focus. Children explore outside in all weathers, with clothing supplied for rain, cold and sunshine. Messy, physical play has a clear place in the day.

The nursery serves children aged two to four on Denman Street West in Radford. It is a maintained nursery school, federated with Mellers Primary since February 2022. Lions accommodates up to twenty two-year-olds with four practitioners; Pandas caters for ages two to three. For three- and four-year-olds, Penguins takes morning or afternoon attenders, while Elephants caters for children attending more sessions.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects play with learning about language, numbers, movement, relationships and the wider world. Adults use the ShREC approach to interactions. An example session starts with books in the library area, followed by registration using picture and name cards. Short group activities alternate with time to choose resources and play; children serve themselves snacks, then finish with singing and stories. This gives the session a recognisable rhythm while leaving room for choice.

Older children can use the studio and creative area, build outdoors or join adult-led cookery, art and woodwork. Forest School sessions take place weekly. In the Forest Garden, a pond, fire pit and storytelling amphitheatre sit alongside spaces for shelter building and wildlife exploration. These provide concrete material for learning about nature, size, shape and safe use of tools.

Ofsted's inspection on 8 and 9 July 2025 judged education and leadership and management Requires improvement, with behaviour and attitudes and personal development Good. Language modelling and early writing activities were strengths, but some learning sequences lacked detail and checks on remembered knowledge. Opportunities across the curriculum were uneven, especially in expressive arts and design. Governors also needed to challenge curriculum quality and achievement more effectively. Curriculum breadth. Families should weigh the attractive activities against these weaknesses in how learning builds over time.

Each child has a named key worker, giving parents a first contact alongside the room leader. Communication includes meetings midway through the year, progress checks for two-year-olds and written reports at year end. In July 2025, children settled promptly, relationships with adults were positive and safeguarding arrangements were effective.

Lunch is prepared fresh in the nursery kitchen. The menu is pescatarian, combining vegetarian food with fish, and can be adapted for allergies; specific dietary requests require a form and medical evidence. Morning and afternoon snacks include chopped fruit or vegetables and a carbohydrate food. At lunch, children practise eating together, trying unfamiliar foods and table manners.

Support includes a sensory room, Makaton, visual timetables and small-group or individual work. SEND adaptations. In July 2025, needs were recognised promptly with parents' involvement, but classroom adjustments were inconsistent, limiting some children's learning. Parents should discuss how support will apply to their child's daily activities.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate primary school application through the normal admissions process. Towards the end of November, parents receive a reminder to apply; the nursery helps with online applications where families lack internet or email access.

For children needing individual transition support, preparation can include extra visits to primary school and discussions between the two settings' special educational needs coordinators. This is support for the move, rather than a promise of admission.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45 and afternoons from 12:30 to 15:30. Funded full days finish at 14:45 after an 08:45 start. Wraparound childcare can extend the day from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, excluding school holidays, bank holidays and INSET days.

Eligible children can use 15 funded hours; some families qualify for 30 term-time hours and must renew their code every three months. Funded and paid sessions can be combined. Private childcare requires at least two full or school days, or four half days, each week, with advance payment. Meals carry separate charges; snack contributions are requested where possible, while private childcare includes snacks. Ask the nursery for current charges.

Join the waiting list using the online enquiry form or email a completed form to admin@nurseryschool.nottingham.sch.uk. Prompt collection matters: late collection attracts a charge. Attendance below 85% puts a nursery place at risk, so discuss difficulties with the team.