Woodlands Academy Nursery

Special educational needs shape the context for Woodlands Academy's nursery provision. The nursery belongs to a special school in Aspley, Nottingham, within the Raleigh Education Trust. The school's remit includes children with autism, communication difficulties, social and emotional needs, and moderate or severe learning disabilities. This is a specialist school context for families considering early education.

The Trust says its approach to inclusion centres on removing obstacles to learning and participation. It considers children's relationships with their surroundings as well as the curriculum itself, an emphasis that places the child's needs alongside what they are being taught.

Decisions about teaching sit with individual schools. The Raleigh Education Trust gives school leaders discretion over curriculum and support, rather than routinely prescribing a single approach across its schools. For parents, that makes the school's particular approach relevant to understanding their child's day; Trust membership alone does not define a session.

At Trust level, the Curriculum Network aims to help teachers understand what their school's curriculum intends children to learn and how that should shape their teaching. Its focus is on learning that builds progressively, connecting activities to knowledge and skills children can use next.

The Trust's SEND network also sets an ambition for children to learn alongside their peers, enjoy education and participate in their community. It aims to help children express their views about their care and support. The emphasis is on participation as well as progress from each child's starting point.

Support needs are considered through the Education, Health and Care plan process. These plans describe a child's needs, the help required and the outcomes being sought. For families, that links support to individual goals rather than treating a diagnosis as a complete account of the child.

The Trust aims to work with Nottingham's specialist services, including teams for autism and speech and language therapy, alongside educational psychology. These are Trust partnerships, rather than a promise that every nursery child receives each service.

Safeguarding has both school and Trust responsibilities. Each academy adopts its own safeguarding procedures, with school accountability involving the principal, local governing body and designated safeguarding lead. The Trust aims to make children feel able to bring concerns to adults and expects staff to recognise signs of abuse or neglect. This gives child protection a defined team structure.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately for Reception through the applicable admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat the nursery decision and the next school placement as separate decisions, rather than assuming that attendance settles what happens next.

Woodlands Academy is on Beechdale Road, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 3EZ. For enquiries, telephone the school on 0115 915 5734. This provides a direct school contact for families considering the nursery provision.