Wadsworth Fields Primary School Nursery

A mud kitchen, herb garden and growing beds give Wadsworth Fields nursery a practical outdoor character. This is Foundation Stage 1, the school's nursery provision in Stapleford, with children starting from three. The nursery occupies the main school building, while its own outdoor area includes mature trees and beds for fruit and vegetables. There is space for play with living things as well as classroom routines.

The 2021-2022 nursery arrangements described 26 places in each morning and afternoon session. Today's session choices depend on availability, so families need to distinguish the pattern they prefer from the place they are offered.

Carpet time sits alongside activities chosen by children and activities directed by adults. Indoor play and outdoor play both form part of the routine; hall sessions may also feature. That gives children experience of joining a group as well as making their own choices.

Parents learn about the curriculum and the organisation of sessions at the introductory meeting, helping them understand how the different parts of the day fit together.

Outside, the mud kitchen provides a setting for practical, imaginative play. Herbs and fruit and vegetable beds add growing spaces to the garden. These concrete features give outdoor time a different character from carpet activities indoors, with opportunities to explore materials and plants.

Settling begins before the first independent session. Staff arrange a home visit, with two Foundation 1 staff attending wherever possible so that conversation with parents can happen alongside play with the child. A telephone conversation or school meeting can provide an alternative when a home visit cannot happen.

Children usually make two or three nursery visits with a parent or carer. They can become familiar with the spaces and routines while a known adult stays alongside them. Entry is spread across the first two or three weeks of term, giving staff time to help new children settle.

For children with SEND, the school's support arrangements include discussions with the class teacher and SENDCo, support plans shared with parents, and a home-school contact book when appropriate. These provide ways to connect support at nursery with what works at home.

Children attending the 30-hour provision have a lunchtime period between the two sessions. The 2021-2022 arrangements required children to bring lunch and parents to pay for lunchtime supervision; families should check current charges with the school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Nottinghamshire County Council, following the normal Reception application timetable. Choosing the nursery and applying for school are separate decisions.

Transition support addresses familiarity rather than admission entitlement. For children with SEND, extra classroom visits can be arranged and, where appropriate, a transition book can introduce new staff and learning spaces through photographs. Support plans pass to the next teacher, and parents have opportunities to meet new teaching and support staff before the move. This keeps information about a child's needs connected across the change.

Morning nursery runs from 8.45am to 11.45am; the afternoon session runs from 12.45pm to 3.45pm. For children with 30-hour provision, lunchtime is 11.45am to 12.45pm. Sessions operate on weekdays during term time, and preferred choices are subject to availability. Wraparound care is also offered for families needing longer hours.

Funding options include 15 hours for all three- and four-year-olds and 30 hours for eligible working families. Tax-Free Childcare is also accepted. Nursery applications go through the school, with forms obtainable through the office at office@wadsworth.notts.sch.uk. That is the enquiry route for arranging a nursery place.