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Nursery at Thornhill Primary 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Outdoor play, songs and seasonal discoveries give Buttercups its shape. Thornhill Primary School’s nursery sits within its Foundation Stage provision on Clough Bank in Rotherham, with Buttercups identified as EYFS 1. The early-years information covers children aged three and four; Thornhill does not offer places for two-year-olds.
Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 18 and 19 October 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Communication was a clear priority: adults joined children’s play and introduced vocabulary, giving them opportunities to practise new words in context.
Buttercups combines indoor play and activity choices with short teaching sessions. A morning begins with registration, followed by indoor continuous provision, phonics, a snack and outdoor play. Mathematics appears in the Foundation 1 morning routine before the session ends. The afternoon brings another register, indoor activities, phonics, snack and outdoor play, with mathematics followed by stories and singing. Children therefore have both time to explore and shared activities with adults.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects learning with children’s development. At Thornhill, early work on talking, movement and relationships supports later learning in numbers, literacy, creativity and understanding the world. Activities are adapted to individual needs. Its Characteristics of Effective Learning approach also emphasises exploration, persistence and children developing their own ideas, so the process of working something out matters alongside the answer.
Topics give that exploration a focus. Autumn centres on children themselves and changes in the seasons; spring turns to the local area, while summer explores dinosaurs and wild animals. Little Wandle is the school’s phonics programme, with Foundation 1 included in its progression planning. The Buttercups weekly routine also includes Tuesday PE and a book bag each school day, connecting movement and books with the session’s regular activities.
Learning to share, wait for a turn and build friendships formed part of early-years teaching in October 2022. These are practical steps towards managing a group session. The Foundation Stage staff structure includes teachers, nursery nurses and teaching assistants, while snack breaks punctuate both the morning and afternoon routines.
Class Dojo gives parents a route to the class teacher for updates and appointments. Urgent messages, including changes to collection, should go through the office because teachers may miss messages while teaching. For additional needs, parents can speak with the SENDCo, who works with families on support at home and school. A sensory checklist can also be shared with the teacher and SENDCo, providing a starting point for discussing concerns.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal primary admissions process. For September 2026 entry, the school’s admissions guidance directed parents to the Capita Citizen Portal or a paper application, with a deadline of 15 January 2026. That cycle has passed; families applying for a later year should follow the relevant admissions timetable.
Transition activity is a separate matter. The school calendar schedules an evening to meet new teachers on 13 July 2027 and a transition day on 14 July 2027. These school events concern preparation for change, rather than entitlement to a Reception place.
Foundation 1 has a morning session from 8:45am to 11:45am and an afternoon session from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. Afternoon Foundation Stage collection is from classroom doors. Notify the office if collection will be late or another person will collect your child.
The early-years funding guidance describes 15 funded hours for three- and four-year-olds and 30 hours for eligible families. For the latter, it requires a valid code and checking details every three months. Contact the school office on 01709 335999 or thornhilloffice@thps.org.uk for nursery enquiries. Prospective families can arrange a school visit.
School uniform includes a red sweatshirt or cardigan, a white or red polo shirt, and grey or black trousers or a skirt. Logo items are optional, allowing families to buy ordinary uniform locally.
Buttercups is identified as EYFS 1, within Thornhill’s Foundation Stage provision.
Foundation 1 mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm.
No. Families must apply separately through the normal primary admissions process.
The Buttercups routine includes indoor activities, phonics, mathematics, snacks and outdoor play. Stories and singing feature in the afternoon.
Contact the school office on 01709 335999 or email thornhilloffice@thps.org.uk. Parents can use Class Dojo for class teacher queries and appointments; urgent messages should go to the office.
