Caverstede Nursery School: nursery life and the next step

An apple press, woodland bird feeders and stories that spill into play give Caverstede's nursery day its character. Children practise doing things for themselves, from choosing resources to getting into waterproof clothing. Independence has practical form here.

Caverstede is a maintained nursery school on Caverstede Road in Walton, Peterborough. Its nursery sessions cater for children aged two, three and four. This is nursery education in a nursery school, with the next step being an application to primary school.

Books connect the learning. At the January 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that carefully selected core books shaped learning across the curriculum and that staff supported early language development especially effectively. Songs, storytelling and conversation give children opportunities to remember, explain and join in. Adults judge when to add to children's play and when to watch, adjusting their language to help learning progress.

The curriculum follows age-related milestones across learning areas. In everyday parent terms, staff check what a child can already manage, then choose activities, routines and language to address the next step. Play has a clear learning purpose.

Buzzy Bee class's autumn 2025 activities show how this works. Walking Through the Jungle came with a story tuff tray containing animals, a girl figure and the book, allowing children to retell the story through play. The Gingerbread Man prompted colour mixing with primary colours, differently sized playdough cutters and clay figures. Story characters supported retelling, while adding faces to paper gingerbread shapes encouraged children to think about facial features.

Outdoors, children explored ice in the garden, made marks in frost and watched ice melt. The January 2024 findings also describe a woodland area, swings, a trampoline and a summer splash pool alongside equipped classrooms. Making bird feeders and pressing apples into juice connect learning with real materials. Taking turns on the play equipment gives social routines a concrete purpose.

Relationships support the learning. In January 2024, children felt secure with staff, additional needs were identified promptly, and adapted resources and routines helped children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) participate successfully. Safeguarding arrangements were effective. For families whose children need extra support, the significant detail is that staff adjusted everyday learning.

Settling into Buzzy Bee class in autumn 2025 involved becoming familiar with adults, other children and classroom routines. Snack time also has a social role: children try unfamiliar foods while talking with adults and peers. These ordinary parts of the session give children practice in being together as well as learning independently.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate primary-school application through the normal admissions route and meet the deadline for their child's entry year.

For September 2026 entry, Caverstede directed families to Peterborough City Council's online school-admissions service, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. That cycle is past. Application information was sent through Parentmail. The September 2026 admissions guidance also said local schools' open-day information would be displayed in the school reception area.

Preparation is a separate matter from allocation. Caverstede's Starting school page directs parents to the Peterborough START Booklet, council school-readiness ideas and Oxford Owl activities. These give families ways to support the move to school at home; they confer no admissions guarantee.

Term-time attendance can be organised around morning, afternoon or all-day sessions. Afternoon sessions run from 12:30 to 15:30; the All Day Session runs from 09:00 to 15:00 and counts as two sessions. Breakfast Club operates from 08:00 to 09:00. Lunch can be added to a half-day session from 12:00 to 12:30, subject to availability, and late provision finishes at 16:00.

Universal funding provides 15 term-time hours each week for three- and four-year-olds from the term after their third birthday. Families can use five half-day sessions, mixed mornings and afternoons, or two full days plus one half-day. Eligible working-parent funding provides 30 hours from age two, equivalent here to five all-day sessions. The funding code must be obtained in the preceding term and renewed every three months. Some eligible two-year-olds can also receive 15 hours through childcare support.

Additional sessions and extended provision can be paid for. Contact the school on 01733 571742 for current charges and nursery enquiries.