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Nursery at St Ives Primary & Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Fairy gardens, a mud kitchen and school-hall gymnastics give St Ives Nursery a day that stretches beyond its own rooms. This is the school's nursery within the school grounds, taking children aged 2 to 4.11 years. A nursery teacher leads the team and works with school teachers, connecting the youngest children's learning with the wider school.
The building has two rooms, with toilets between them and a large outdoor space. Children have places for quieter reading as well as making, building and pretend play. Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 6 and 7 December 2023; this was an early years judgement within the school inspection.
Play shapes the approach. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning to communicate, move, manage feelings and relationships, read, write and count, alongside exploring the world and creating things. Half-term themes give that learning a focus: autumn begins with Why Do Leaves Go Crispy?, while spring includes Are Eggs Alive? These questions give children something concrete to investigate.
For preschool children, daily teaching uses Read, Write, Inc. Nursery for early reading and White Rose for maths. Younger children have family time, with stories, movement and music supporting language, and rhymes and games introducing mathematical ideas. The day alternates these adult-led activities with time to choose between indoor and outdoor play.
Inside, children help create signs and props for the role-play space. The Creative Area has paint, fabric and playdough; a separate reading space offers books and quiet time. Outdoors, the mud kitchen and water tray invite mixing, pouring and experimenting. Climbing equipment, a sandpit and construction materials add physical challenges and building opportunities.
Daily walks explore the grounds or the forest area at the fairy gardens. Afternoon activities can include gymnastics in the hall or multi-skills with sports coaches on the MUGA. Stories and singing close the afternoon. There is room for both active play and shared group time.
The December 2023 inspection found that nursery children's vocabulary benefited from focused work on language. Relationships with adults and established daily routines also supported their personal, social and emotional development. That combination matters for children learning to express their needs and take part in a group. The nursery also uses myhappymind, a programme intended to support emotional regulation and mental health.
Lunch brings a choice between food brought from home and a hot school meal. Children generally eat together in nursery, with a different arrangement for preschool children in the summer term. A rolling morning snack fits around their choosing time.
Parents can see photos, observations and next steps through an online learning journal. A curriculum newsletter arrives each half term, and the Celebration of Learning invites families to join activities, see children's work and enjoy songs or stories. These give parents practical ways to share in what their child is learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.
Preparation for school happens through everyday routines: visual timetables, lining up and using shared facilities. During the summer term, preschool children eat in the main hall alongside Reception and Key Stage 1 children, practising the lunch routine in a larger setting. This builds familiarity; it does not secure admission.
The nursery operates during term time for 39 weeks each year, from 8.40am to 3pm. Morning sessions run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8.40am to 12.45pm, with a minimum booking of two sessions weekly. Breakfast and after-school club care extends childcare availability to 7.45am–6pm.
Government-funded nursery places carry no top-up fees. Enquiries go to office@stivesprimary.com or 01425 475478. Parent & Toddler Mornings run on Mondays, 9.30–11am, for families with children aged 2–4; book through the school office to take part in activities and meet the nursery team.
Children aged 2 to 4.11 years can attend.
Term-time nursery hours are 8.40am–3pm. Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions run from 8.40am to 12.45pm. The minimum booking is two sessions per week.
Yes. Children can have a hot school meal or bring a lunchbox from home.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.
Book a Parent & Toddler Morning through the school office. These run on Mondays from 9.30–11am for parents or carers with children aged 2–4.
