Thrybergh Fullerton Church of England Primary Academy Nursery

Counting with objects in a water area gives a concrete picture of early learning at Thrybergh Fullerton: practical activities build skills children will use later. This is the academy’s Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) nursery in Thrybergh, Rotherham. Children can start in the term following their third birthday; the nursery admission number for 2026/27 is 30.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 12 and 13 March 2024. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) connects activities with preparation for later learning. In March 2024, children practised adding to ten using objects in the water area. This makes early mathematics something children can handle and explore, rather than just hear explained.

Small movements matter too. Activities developed fine motor control, preparing children for holding a pencil later. The early years learning environment also gave children stimulating activities which they enjoyed. These examples show how practical tasks serve a learning purpose: working with objects develops number knowledge, while fine motor activities prepare the hands for writing.

Speech and language support has a place in the day. In March 2024, staff recognised children who needed additional help with communication and used daily nursery rhymes as one response. Familiar rhymes give those children repeated opportunities to practise language within an ordinary activity.

Families can contact the school’s special educational needs coordinator through the office. Learning Plans and school support plans involve parents in their creation and review, with targets reconsidered each term. Parents can also speak with the class teacher or SEND coordinator during the year, so concerns need not wait for a formal meeting.

Children staying across lunchtime can have a school meal, which carries an additional charge. This is a practical consideration when choosing between a shorter session and a longer day.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Rotherham Council and meet the deadline for their child’s entry year. For September 2026 entry, the closing date was 15 January 2026. Nursery attendance confers no priority under the 2026/27 oversubscription criteria, so choosing FS1 should be a decision about the nursery itself.

For children with SEND, additional transition opportunities between nursery and the school’s F2 Reception class can be arranged where needed. That support concerns preparation for the change, rather than entitlement to a place.

Term-time sessions include mornings from 8:30am to 11:30am, afternoons from noon to 3pm, and an all-day pattern from 8:30am to 2:30pm. A paid extension allows children to stay until 3pm; this is charged half-termly. The collection time therefore depends on the arrangement booked.

The nursery provides 15 funded hours, with a limited number of 30-hour places for eligible families registered with the local authority. Families using the longer pattern should confirm their place and contact the school for current extension and meal charges.

To register interest or arrange a visit, call 01709 850572. Give the office your child’s birth date, name, address, a contact number and preferred hours. The school contacts waiting-list families in the term before a proposed start to arrange admission.