Maltby Redwood Academy Nursery Review

Woodland learning, practical maths and the first sounds of reading give Maltby Redwood's nursery its character. Children aged three to four attend the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Nursery Class, with part-time and full-time attendance options. This is a school nursery with its own outdoor area and access to Forest School Woodland, giving children space for learning beyond the classroom.

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 16 and 17 March 2022. Inspectors found warm relationships between adults and children, alongside weaknesses in staff curriculum knowledge and the choice of some learning activities. Both sides matter when considering the provision.

The EYFS combines learning to communicate, manage feelings and move confidently with early reading, maths, creativity and exploration of the world. Here, children practise listening and following instructions, build relationships and learn about caring for themselves. Large play apparatus and smaller tools such as scissors give physical development a practical place in the day.

Read Write Inc introduces the first set of sounds when nursery children are ready. Pictures and memory prompts connect sounds with letter formation. Weekly adult-led work on small hand movements, alongside independent activities, includes threading and using scissors: preparation for controlling a pencil or paintbrush.

White Rose Maths brings counting, number recognition and ordering into practical activities, with daily adult-led maths sessions alongside independent learning. Singing, roleplay, dance and art give children other ways to express ideas. Art also forms part of EYFS continuous provision.

Outdoors, children use the Outdoor Area and Forest School Woodland for hands-on experiences. Named wellies and a waterproof coat are part of the kit. Nursery enrichment includes an Owl Visit and Chicks in School, with voluntary contributions attached to these activities.

Teaching consistency. In March 2022, some activities did not help children consolidate new learning effectively, and some early years staff needed further training in curriculum delivery. Monitoring of the early years curriculum also needed greater depth. Early reading teaching sometimes missed children's precise difficulties. These findings make the match between an activity and what a child needs to learn an important consideration.

For the September 2023 intake, starting dates were staggered and communicated individually by letter. This spread children's entry into school over time. Collection uses a password when the adult collecting a child is unfamiliar to staff, providing a specific check at handover.

Lunch can be a meal purchased at school or a packed lunch brought from home. ABM Catering manages the school's catering. The nursery's school lunch is a charged extra, so families should include meals when considering the attendance pattern.

Additional needs are coordinated through the school's SEND team. Support follows an assess, plan, do and review cycle, with parents involved in deciding adjustments and reviewing progress. Parents of children on the SEND register are invited to termly meetings. The buildings have disabled access and accessible toilets, useful practical features for families with mobility needs.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply separately through the normal admissions process, via the Local Authority School Admissions Team. Choosing nursery and applying for Reception are separate decisions; keep the Reception application on your family calendar.

Foundation Stage 1 offers a morning pattern from 8:45am to 11:45am and a full-day pattern from 8:45am to 3:15pm. Funding is term-time: the universal entitlement is 15 hours each week, with another 15 hours for eligible working parents. Up to 15 additional hours can be purchased where parents do not qualify for the additional entitlement or have used entitlement with provision outside term time.

Baking and named enrichment activities carry voluntary contributions. Families who prefer to supply their own consumables can discuss the next steps with nursery staff. Contact the school for current charges.

For nursery enquiries, call 01709 812848 or email info@maltbyredwood.com. A VIP tour enquiry form includes Nursery Places as an option, giving families a direct route to arrange a visit.