Thurcroft Infant School Nursery Review

Eggs in an incubator, shape hunts around the classroom and sandcastles at Cleethorpes give Thurcroft’s nursery its character: learning starts with things children can handle, watch and talk about. Foundation Stage 1 is the school’s nursery provision on Locksley Drive, with entry in September following a child’s third birthday. It offers 15-hour and 30-hour patterns.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection of 29 to 30 April 2025. That judgement covers early years across the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. The early years curriculum was broad, with opportunities to build language through the learning environment.

Adult-guided activities sit alongside play that children initiate themselves. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together learning through communication, relationships, movement and exploration, as well as early reading and maths. Adults model vocabulary, explain what they are doing and help children revisit earlier ideas. Children also have room to make choices. This gives parents a picture of a day combining teaching with independent exploration.

Daily stories and maths meetings form part of the early years approach. My Letters and Sounds supports phonics, while White Rose Maths/Master the Curriculum supports mathematical learning. In nursery, a shape hunt involved spotting rectangles and triangles alongside squares and circles: an example of turning mathematical vocabulary into something children can recognise around them.

The nursery has a classroom and an outdoor area. An Easter egg hunt took learning outside, while the wider EYFS environment is arranged into curriculum areas, with children’s ideas and work incorporated as the term develops. Outdoor learning includes investigating seasonal change and searching for minibeasts, giving children real things to observe and discuss.

Stories lead into practical activities too. In April 2025, a Chicken Licken scenario introduced eggs for children to monitor in a warm incubator. They also mixed pancake batter and ate the finished pancakes at snack time. A July 2025 trip to Cleethorpes included beach games, sandcastle building and a road train ride. These are concrete examples of nursery learning extending beyond paper and pencils.

Settling begins before the September start. Children can explore the provision at stay and play sessions with an accompanying adult; parents attend a transition meeting beforehand and a Welcome to FS1 meeting during autumn. That sequence gives families opportunities to become familiar with the nursery before and after their child starts.

Parents have also joined nursery children for stay and read, sharing stories together. In April 2025, relationships with families were a strength of the early years provision from the point children joined. For additional needs, the school uses a graduated response and works with parents through a cycle of assessing needs, planning support and reviewing it. The emphasis is on identifying needs early.

Children taking the 30-hour nursery place bring a packed lunch. Breakfast Club also accepts Foundation 1 children, serving toast, cereals, yoghurt and fruit. This adds an earlier care option for families who need it.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the normal deadline.

Preparation for the change is a separate matter. In July, children can spend several days with their new teacher, experiencing the daily routine and lunchtime. Parents are invited to meet Reception staff and the Inclusion Leader to discuss routines and expectations. These arrangements help children become familiar with the next stage; they do not secure admission.

For the 15-hour provision, nursery sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am or from noon to 3pm. The 30-hour nursery day runs from 8:45am to 3pm. Session planning. Choose between a morning, afternoon or full-day pattern according to the provision offered; the packed-lunch requirement applies to the 30-hour place.

Breakfast Club opens at 7:45am, with food served until 8am. Book through Arbor by 3:30pm the day before attendance and pay beforehand. Contact the school for current charges.

Uniform combines a white polo shirt with a red cardigan or sweatshirt and grey or black bottoms. Foundation children need wellingtons for outdoor play, and clothing should be labelled. Nursery enquiries go to the office on 01709 542538 or school@tci.jmat.org.uk.