Victoria Primary School Nursery Review

Sound games, animal encounters and exploring The Meadows give Victoria Primary School’s nursery a character of its own. The provision accommodates 26 nursery pupils within the school’s foundation stage in Nottingham. It serves children aged 3 to 4, with full-time and part-time attendance from the September following their third birthday.

At the Ofsted inspection on 28 and 29 January 2025, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Early language and number learning were identified as foundations of the curriculum, giving parents a useful picture of its educational priorities.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, move and manage feelings with early reading, mathematics, creativity and discovering how the world works. For parents, the important connection is between these areas: talking about an animal, singing a rhyme or comparing objects can each support several kinds of learning.

The 2025–2026 nursery programme made those connections concrete. Globetrotters explored countries and greetings in different languages, with families invited to contribute experiences of living or travelling abroad. Where we live focused on homes, belonging and significant places in The Meadows. These topics gave children familiar starting points for talking about a bigger world.

Tuning into Sounds used games to develop children’s awareness of sounds in speech. Mathematics included putting familiar events in order, comparing quantities, exploring shapes and describing where objects are. These are practical beginnings: children learn language they can use to explain what they notice.

Activities include a number hunt, baking chocolate nests, a trip to the park and an animal roadshow. There is variety in the experiences themselves, from handling ingredients to encountering animals. Staff use Development Matters and Leuven Scales to assess nursery children’s development, providing a framework for understanding each child’s learning.

Language needs receive attention early. Every child in the foundation stage is screened for communication and language needs, so support can begin with an understanding of how they express themselves and understand others.

For families dealing with toileting difficulties, the class teacher and SENDCo are points of contact, and the school can support a referral for help with continence. Nursery families also have access to Contact workshops covering subjects including sleep, anxiety and toileting. Translated activities for learning through play offer another way to continue learning together at home.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer priority under the school’s oversubscription criteria. Families must make a separate Reception application through Nottingham City Council’s Common Application Form and meet the normal application deadline. Treat this as a separate decision from choosing the nursery.

Preparation for the next classroom is a different matter. A summer session lets parents and carers meet the class teacher and SENCo, while two taster sessions take place later in the summer term. These opportunities help families become familiar with the next stage; they do not determine admission.

Full-time and part-time nursery attendance are offered for children’s flexible free entitlement. This gives families two broad attendance options within the school’s early years provision.

The school is on Ainsworth Drive in The Meadows. Contact the office on 0115 807 7750 or at office@victoriaprimaryschool.org.uk for nursery enquiries. School visits are welcomed, giving families an opportunity to get to know the setting before making their choice.