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Nursery at Dixie Grammar School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Imaginative play and learning to ask for help give The Pippins its character: these are small, practical steps towards independence. Dixie Grammar School’s nursery caters for children aged 3 to 4 at Temple Hall in Wellsborough, alongside the junior school. Children can join on or after their third birthday.
In March 2025, the nursery comprised one class. Its place within the school gives families a school-based early-years option, but choosing the nursery and securing a Reception place are separate decisions.
Communication has a clear place in the learning. At the ISI inspection of 18 to 20 March 2025, nursery children recognised their own names, responded to instructions, sought help and joined eagerly in pretend play. Those examples bring the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) into focus for parents: learning includes expressing needs and understanding others, alongside early literacy.
Teaching across the early years develops language, introduces reading and helps children connect letters with sounds. Adults extend vocabulary and encourage children to explain their thinking. The emphasis is on using language, rather than simply hearing it.
Physical learning sits alongside this. Nursery children use play equipment to develop coordination. In March 2025, the early-years spaces indoors and outside were maintained well and equipped to support learning; children made good progress. Together, these features give children opportunities to practise movement as well as communication.
Settling starts with a conversation about the individual child. Parents meet the nursery manager, discuss their child’s stage of development and consider a settling plan where appropriate. A tour also introduces the routines, giving families a practical starting point for the move into nursery.
In March 2025, early-years adults had suitable training, including paediatric first aid, and put children’s safety and wellbeing first. Children received good care in an inclusive setting. Social learning is equally concrete: adults demonstrate respectful exchanges and teach children to listen, wait their turn and be kind. Early-years children also learn about friendship, sharing and whom to approach when worried. Asking for support is part of the learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Reception admission is by teacher assessment. Contact the school’s admissions team to confirm the steps required for your child. Families should treat that assessment as an admissions step, rather than assume that time at The Pippins secures progression.
The distinction matters when planning beyond nursery. Discuss Reception entry with the admissions team while considering the nursery, so that the assessment and entry arrangements are part of the family’s planning from the outset.
The Pippins accepts 15 hours of nursery education funding, with eligibility beginning in the term following a child’s third birthday. Childcare vouchers are also accepted. For the 2025-26 academic year, funding covered a maximum of 15 hours each week for up to 38 weeks; keep that period in mind when discussing current arrangements.
For current nursery charges, contact the Junior School Office. Nursery enquiries and visits can be arranged on 01455 293024 or through registrar@dixie.org.uk. General enquiries go to infojs@dixie.org.uk. The nursery address is Temple Hall, Wellsborough, Leicestershire, CV13 6PA.
The Pippins caters for children aged 3 to 4. Children may join on or after their third birthday.
It is at Temple Hall, Wellsborough, Leicestershire, CV13 6PA, alongside Dixie Grammar School’s junior school.
Parents meet the nursery manager to discuss their child’s development and consider an appropriate settling plan. A tour introduces nursery routines.
No. Reception admission is by teacher assessment. Contact the school’s admissions team to confirm the steps required for your child.
Yes. It accepts 15 hours of nursery education funding, with eligibility from the term after the child’s third birthday. It also accepts childcare vouchers.
