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Nursery at Westdale Infant and Nursery
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
A rainbow above the reading area, puppets for retelling stories and cushions for sharing books give Little Stars its character. Stories are a starting point for play here, with a focus book shaping each week's learning rather than reading being confined to a single activity.
Little Stars is Westdale Infant and Nursery's own nursery provision in Mapperley, Nottingham. It caters for three-year-old children on the school site. Its stated aim is to combine play with structured activities, following children's interests while helping them develop confidence, communication and independence.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum takes practical form through play, observation and activities adapted to each child's development. Staff use Development Matters to guide this work, observing progress and changing plans in response to children's interests. That gives children room to pursue an idea while adults plan their next learning steps.
Books provide a clear thread through the day. Children share stories, revisit a focus book and explore familiar situations, factual books, rhymes and traditional tales. The reading area's puppets let them act out stories as well as listen to them. Supersonic Phonic Friends is the school's EYFS phonics approach, using actions, rhythmic phrases and movement alongside learning through play.
Preparation for writing starts with bodies and hands. Climbing, building and jumping develop larger movements; puzzles, bead threading and squeezing playdough work on finer control. Painting can involve sticks and muddy puddles as well as brushes. The purpose is practical: children build the movements needed before expecting them to manage a pencil.
In May 2023, Ofsted found that the early years indoor provision supported language and early number development, with songs, stories and rhymes contributing to children's vocabulary. Outdoor learning needs attention. At that time, the outdoor resources supported learning less effectively than those indoors, and leaders were asked to bring the outdoor provision up to the same standard. Families weighing up outdoor learning should keep that distinction in view.
Relationships in the early years were positive in May 2023, and children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) learned alongside their peers. Little Stars aims to develop independence in hygiene and personal care, alongside helping children communicate and manage their behaviour.
ClassDojo connects nursery learning with home through messages, photographs and videos. A class teacher sends families a sign-up link after enrolment, making it possible to share learning in both directions. For SEND concerns, the school's first point of contact is the class teacher, with referral to the SENCO where further support is needed.
Children are automatically enrolled in Coolmilk when they start at Westdale, with free milk for those under five. For Little Stars children not using funded time, Lunch Club runs from 11.45am to 12.15pm, with sandwiches or a hot school dinner as options. Breakfast food and an after-school snack are included in wraparound sessions.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process. For Nottinghamshire residents, that route is Nottinghamshire County Council, including when applying to schools outside the county.
Joint activities and experiences each term are intended to help nursery children prepare for school. This transition work supports familiarity with the next stage; it is separate from the allocation of a Reception place.
Core nursery hours run from 8.50am to 3.15pm, with morning and afternoon booking options also offered. Children taking 30 hours across three full days of ten hours have wraparound included in that booking arrangement; families need to tell staff whether they will use it so staffing can be planned.
For other nursery booking patterns, wraparound is booked separately through Arbor. Breakfast Club begins at 7.30am, and After School Club runs until 5.30pm, with a charged extension to 6pm. Contact the school for current charges.
Nursery applications are returned to littlestars@westdale-inf.notts.sch.uk. Families can request a paper application pack through the same address. School visits can be arranged through the office, and Little Stars also has a virtual tour.
The on-site nursery caters for three-year-old children.
They develop larger movements through climbing, jumping and building, and finer hand control through activities such as bead threading, puzzles and playdough.
Little Stars uses ClassDojo for photographs, videos and messages. A class teacher sends a sign-up link after your child enrols.
It is included for children taking 30 hours across three full days of ten hours. Families using that arrangement should tell staff whether they will attend wraparound. Other booking patterns require separate wraparound bookings through Arbor.
No. Reception requires a separate application. Nottinghamshire residents apply through Nottinghamshire County Council.
