Oakfield Primary Academy Nursery Review

Play that moves between indoor and outdoor classrooms gives Acorns, Oakfield Primary Academy’s nursery in Rugby, its defining shape. Children can move between the two learning spaces, rather than spending the whole session in one classroom. The nursery belongs to the school’s early years phase, with a Nursery Lead Practitioner and early years teaching assistants within the staff team.

In November 2025, Ofsted judged the early years provision to be at the Expected standard. That judgement covers the school’s early years phase, rather than giving Acorns a separate nursery rating.

Individual activities sit alongside learning in small groups and as a class. This gives children different ways to participate: exploring for themselves, working with a few peers and joining a larger group. Play is the main approach, supported by practical experiences that help children make sense of their surroundings.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together emotional and social development, movement and communication, alongside early literacy, mathematics, creative expression and understanding the world. For parents, this means the curriculum extends beyond letters and numbers to how children talk, relate to others and use their bodies. The indoor and outdoor classrooms provide spaces for that learning to continue across different activities.

Stories and rhymes engage children, while early writing, reading and number receive attention from the outset. In November 2025, children enjoyed shared play and learning and developed curiosity, confidence and independence. However, some conversations with adults did too little to advance learning, leaving a few children making less progress in language than expected. Developing communication through more consistently effective adult interactions was an early years improvement priority.

Each child has an online learning journal combining photographs and observations contributed at home and school. Parents can therefore contribute to the picture of their child’s development, rather than simply receive updates. In November 2025, staff involved families in children’s learning and understood individual developmental needs accurately.

Activities were adjusted for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities, helping them achieve well. The school’s SEND provision can include changes to teaching, reasonable adjustments and targeted help; families can contact the SENDCo through the school office about developmental concerns.

For lunch, families choose between sending a packed lunch and purchasing a school meal. This gives them a practical choice for children staying across the midday break.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Warwickshire County Council Admissions Service. The application deadline is usually January for entry in September, so the Reception application needs its own place in the family calendar even when a child already attends Acorns.

Morning sessions run from 08:45 to 11:45; afternoon sessions run from 12:15 to 15:15. A full day spans 08:45 to 15:15, totalling 6.5 hours, with lunch between 11:45 and 12:15. Families can use shorter sessions or a full day according to their childcare needs.

Both 15-hour and 30-hour funded places are offered. For eligible families using 30 funded hours, the pattern is 08:45 to 15:15 from Monday to Thursday and 08:45 to 12:45 on Friday. A paid extension allows a Friday finish at 15:15, and additional sessions can also be purchased. Ask the school for current charges.

To enquire or request a nursery place, email admin@oakfieldprimaryacademy.co.uk or telephone 01788 565021.