Fulbridge Academy Nursery Review

Language gives Fulbridge Academy’s nursery its clearest character: children build vocabulary before moving into the next stage of school. That is the nursery-specific finding from the March 2024 inspection, which rated the academy’s early years provision Outstanding. The judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

For children aged 3–4, this is a maintained nursery attached to a four-form-entry primary school in Peterborough. Families are choosing an introduction to learning within a larger school organisation, with an early years inclusion team alongside it.

Building language is a concrete part of nursery learning here. Acquiring words gives children more ways to express an idea, describe something and join a conversation. It is a useful focus for parents weighing what their child will gain from the nursery day.

Active Learning is the academy’s shared curriculum framework. Its four strands have distinct purposes: Active Voice concerns communication and collaboration; Active Heart focuses on relationships; Active Identity explores children’s understanding of themselves; and Active Mind covers academic learning. The academy aims to develop confidence, curiosity and resilience through this framework. For families, its emphasis extends beyond learning facts to how children express themselves and relate to others.

Physical expansion was being planned in February 2025. The proposal involved moving the nursery to FAH and joining three classrooms to accommodate up to 72 children. That figure describes the proposed expansion, not the number of places currently operating. The planned rooms give a concrete picture of the intended change, while keeping the distinction between an ambition and an existing nursery space clear.

An EYFS SENDCo forms part of the inclusion team, alongside a SEND Officer and an Assistant Principal for Inclusion who also holds the SENDCo and Allergy Lead roles. This gives families identifiable roles to approach about additional needs, rather than a single general contact for every concern.

The academy says its team works with families and external specialists to understand individual needs, using adapted learning experiences and accessible resources. For a child needing additional support, that makes discussion with the inclusion team a relevant part of the relationship between home and nursery.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application for Reception through the normal admissions process; the new intake is administered by the local authority, and applications for a September start are made online. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.

Fulbridge Academy is on Keeton Road, Peterborough, PE1 3JQ. For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01733 566990 or email office@fulbridgeacademy.co.uk. These provide a direct route into the school’s office team.