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Nursery at Ashfield Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Songs, sound games and stories give Ashfield’s nursery its character. A daily phonics session concentrates on listening and speaking, while children can choose books independently, share them with an adult and read alongside a buddy from another year group. Those activities put conversation and enjoyment of books into the nursery day.
Acorn is the nursery class within Ashfield Primary School on Weston Lane in Otley. The school’s Ofsted grade is Good; that is a school judgement, rather than a separate nursery inspection outcome.
Phonics usually comes near the beginning of the day. A nursery rhyme returns across the week, followed by turn-taking, a greeting to a frog character and a positive statement about themselves. Children then practise noticing, recalling or discussing sounds. The emphasis is on hearing carefully and finding words to express themselves.
The sequence changes across the year. Environmental and instrumental sounds come first, followed by body percussion, rhythm and rhyme, then voice sounds and practice in breaking spoken words into sounds and joining them together. Nursery learning lays the groundwork for Read Write Inc. Early Years also includes Drawing Club each day, linking imaginative storytelling with language, pencil control and small hand movements.
Maths uses things children can handle. They match objects, sort collections and compare quantities, before exploring numbers from one to five. Weight comparisons move from holding objects to checking with balance scales. Later activities use real objects to tell mathematical stories about one more or one less. Water, rice, sand and loose parts provide materials for exploring capacity, making mathematical ideas tangible.
Stories connect language with other learning. Acorn’s autumn activities have included Dear Zoo and conversations about favourite animals, alongside The Colour Monster, feelings and colour mixing. Woodland walks also feature in autumn themes. These examples show how books can lead into talk, practical exploration and outdoor experiences.
Settling opportunities form part of the opening autumn maths programme. Emotional language also has a place in learning: The Colour Monster has been used to explore feelings, giving children a story through which to discuss them.
For children with special educational needs and disabilities, the school uses a cycle of assessment, planning, action and review. Families of children on the SEND register meet the class teacher and SEND coordinator each term to discuss progress and the next steps in support. Concerns about speech and language can lead to an NHS referral for assessment and a programme. These are school-wide arrangements, relevant to families considering support needs before joining.
Attending Ashfield’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority. For families living in Leeds, the route is www.leeds.gov.uk/apply. The deadline for September 2027 entry is 15 January 2027. Nursery attendance should therefore sit alongside, rather than replace, planning for that application.
Morning nursery runs from 9:00am to 12:00 noon; the afternoon session runs from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Each provides a distinct three-hour window for planning the family day.
Regular nursery attendance is expected, and a child’s place can be at risk if attendance is irregular. For enquiries, contact the school office on 01943 463341. Ashfield also asks Early Years families to spend at least 10 minutes daily on books and stories, phonics practice and number work, so some learning time at home forms part of the routine.
The morning session is 9:00am to 12:00 noon, and the afternoon session is 12:00pm to 3:00pm.
Children practise speaking, listening, rhyme and recognising sounds. Later learning includes joining spoken sounds together and breaking words into sounds.
Activities include matching and sorting objects, comparing weight with balance scales and exploring capacity using sand, water, rice and loose parts.
For children on the SEND register, parents meet the class teacher and SEND coordinator each term to review progress and plan support.
No. A separate application is required through the home local authority. Leeds residents apply at www.leeds.gov.uk/apply; the deadline for September 2027 entry is 15 January 2027.
