Brinsworth Manor Infant School Nursery

Daily Forest School gives Ladybirds Class its distinctive rhythm: outdoor learning is a regular part of nursery life. This is Brinsworth Manor Infant School’s F1 provision, within its Early Years Foundation Stage, with morning, afternoon and all-day 30-hour places. The school is on Brinsworth Lane in Brinsworth, Rotherham.

At the inspection on 28 and 29 February 2024, Ofsted judged early years provision Requires Improvement. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than being a separate nursery rating.

Learning follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), organised around three enquiry questions across the year, children’s interests and global goals. Children develop language by talking about seasonal changes and learn about the natural world through watching and caring for wildlife. In February 2024, the early years curriculum identified what children should learn and the order for teaching it, but some resources restricted children’s choices and opportunities to take their learning further. In October 2024, work on developing the nursery’s pre-reading curriculum was still being considered.

Forest School brings a more concrete picture of the day. Children prepare outdoor clothing, discuss routines and take resources to the woodland site. A log circle provides a gathering place for conversation, storytelling, natural art and woodwork. Sessions finish with reflection and tidying away, giving children a role in caring for the space they use.

The school grounds include a willow dome, fairy garden, pond, bird boxes and bug hotel. These give outdoor exploration specific places and subjects, from watching wildlife to noticing seasonal change. Wellies and spare clothes matter here: the school asks families to keep suitable footwear and a change of clothing in school so outdoor learning can continue in different weather.

Nursery Forest School sessions are led by a practitioner holding a Level 3 Award for leading Forest Schools, with a qualified paediatric first aider staffing each session. The school uses praise and restorative discussions to address behaviour, aiming to help children understand how their actions affect others.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), support involves the teacher, SENCO and family agreeing adjustments and reviewing their effect. Parents of children on the SEND register are invited to termly meetings. Speech and Language Therapy and the Autism and Communication Team are among the specialist services the school can access. This gives families a route for discussing communication or developmental concerns and contributing to support decisions.

Safeguarding needs a dated account. In February 2024, the school’s arrangements were ineffective, with weaknesses in recording concerns, responding promptly and completing recruitment checks. By the monitoring visit on 10 October 2024, safeguarding was effective: staff had appropriate training, concerns prompted timely action and required checks were completed before adults began work with pupils.

School lunch menus can be found on Dojo and the notice board in the front yard. Parent communication also uses the Arbor Parent Portal and app, providing a direct channel for school messages.

Attending Ladybirds does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery children do not move automatically into the attached school’s Reception: families must make a separate application through the normal admissions process, using their home local authority’s application form. For Rotherham families, the route is Rotherham Council’s Education Admissions Office.

Transition support is a separate matter. The school’s arrangements include time in a new classroom and photograph booklets showing staff and spaces such as toilets and cloakrooms. For children with SEND, meetings can bring together parents, the previous setting and the new teacher to plan support. Familiarity helps prepare a child for change; it does not secure admission.

Morning nursery runs from 8.30am to 11.30am; afternoon nursery runs from 12.15pm to 3.15pm. The pattern for 30-hour children is 9am to 3pm. Those different start and finish times are important when planning collection or combining nursery with another child’s school day.

Contact the administration team on 01709 828187 or enquiries@bmi.wwpat.org for nursery enquiries. Appointments to look around the school can be arranged before applying. The school prefers children to wear uniform, but branded items are optional. Its colours are a red top, grey or black bottoms and a white shirt or T-shirt, with black shoes suitable for outdoor play.