Windmill L.E.A.D. Academy Nursery

Mud digging, balancing beams and water play give Windmill’s nursery a practical, active character. This is the academy’s Foundation 1 class on Sneinton Boulevard in Sneinton, Nottingham, with children able to start the day after their third birthday if a place is available. It is an introduction to school through early-years learning, with morning and afternoon sessions rather than a single uninterrupted day.

Outdoor activity has concrete variety: children explore rocks, use a slide and practise balancing on beams. Digging brings them into contact with mud, while pouring and splashing provide another way to explore materials and play together. These are useful distinctions for parents seeking physical activity as well as classroom learning.

Communication forms part of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) experience. In November 2024, staff used stories, singing and rhymes to expand children’s vocabulary. Familiar language activities give children ways to build the words they need to express themselves.

At that time, children were becoming accustomed to learning routines and taking part enthusiastically. Their interests informed the curriculum, which developed knowledge and skills for the next stage. Activity planning needs attention. Some early-years tasks lacked enough thought and left children insufficiently engaged in learning. The improvement required was more purposeful activity design so children could make progress through the curriculum. This matters alongside the appealing outdoor examples: participation alone does not establish how much a child learns.

Foundation 1 teaching is led by a teacher who also holds the EYFS leadership role. For children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), the class teacher works with the SENCO to adapt provision. Parents can raise concerns about learning, emotions or social interaction with their child’s teacher first, giving families a clear starting point for discussion.

Support is organised through assessment, planning, action and review. Individual provision maps record needs and adjustments, and parents are involved in reviewing support. This links conversations about a child’s difficulties to a plan that can be reconsidered as their needs change.

Some children needing support beyond the mainstream classroom may attend Beijing, an enhanced provision serving EYFS and Key Stage 1, either part time or full time. Children there use Flying Fish Cove, an immersive room, for daily sensory circuits. A disabled toilet is also situated in the EYFS area. These are specific facilities relevant to families considering additional support and access.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer admissions priority. Families must make a separate application through their home local authority, normally Nottingham City Council. For September 2027 entry, the normal application deadline is 15 January 2027. Keep that application separate from the nursery arrangements.

For children with SEND, transition support can include photo booklets showing their next classroom and staff, extra classroom visits where appropriate, and information passed to the new teaching team. Familiarisation supports the move; it does not alter the admissions decision.

Morning nursery runs from 08:30 to 11:30; the afternoon session runs from 12:15 to 15:15. Funded places of 15 and 30 hours are offered. The two session windows give families clear collection times around which to organise their day.

Apply directly to the school office or telephone 0115 915 0195. Visits can be booked through the same number, providing a direct route to see the early-years learning environment before applying.