Upton Primary School Nursery Review

River Don is the nursery class at Upton, with a teacher, nursery nurse and higher level teaching assistant forming its team. This is the school's own nursery within a mixed Nursery and Reception Foundation Stage Unit on Waggon Lane, Upton. It has 52 places, divided into 26 morning places and 26 afternoon places. Children become eligible the term after their third birthday.

Language and personal development shape the curriculum. For families, the combination of a named nursery class and a wider Foundation Stage Unit gives the provision a clear school setting, while the morning and afternoon groups provide two distinct session options.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning about language, movement and relationships with early reading, writing, mathematics, creativity and understanding the world. Upton uses Development Matters to inform its planning alongside knowledge of children's development. The emphasis on communication and personal, social and emotional development means learning to express ideas and relate to others receives deliberate attention.

Topics include Amazing Animals, Growing and Adventure, with children's interests helping to shape the learning. Activities are adapted to children's development and their next learning steps. These themes give families concrete starting points for talking with their child about nursery learning.

At the October 2022 inspection, Ofsted found that adults extended children's vocabulary effectively and that nursery mathematics activities and displays supported mathematical understanding and language. The displays make mathematics part of the learning environment, alongside activities involving children directly. Across early years, children also joined in familiar stories read aloud by adults. Together, these findings give a specific picture of learning through conversation, stories and early mathematical ideas.

Before starting, children are invited to stay and play with the staff and future nursery classmates. A home visit also takes place before their start. It gives the team time to get acquainted with the child and family before nursery sessions begin, while stay and play introduces the people children will spend time with.

Support for additional needs sits within the school's SEND structure. A SENDCO manages provision for identified pupils and can be contacted through the school office. Upton aims to adapt teaching to individual needs, with additional help that may involve specialist staff or services. This gives families a route for discussing support before their child starts.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Wakefield admissions: the application forms go to the child's address and must be returned to Wakefield. Treat the nursery place and the Reception application as separate decisions.

Preparation for starting school has its own activities. A summer-term parent meeting introduces staff and the learning area, while an All About Me day lets children spend time with their future teacher and classmates. These are opportunities to become familiar with the next stage, rather than an admissions advantage.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30 to 11:30, with collection doors opening at 11:25. Afternoon nursery runs from 12:10 to 15:10, with doors opening for collection at 15:05. Those collection windows matter when arranging work or another child's school run.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01977 650820 or email office@upton.wakefield.sch.uk. The office supplies the nursery application form, which families return to join the waiting list.

Separate childcare provider. Upton Day Care is a separate provider, although the school works with it to support transitions for children attending both settings. Questions about a child's care should go to the provider responsible for that care.