Thorpe Willoughby Community Primary School Nursery

Families, pets, the five senses and Cinderella give Seedlings Class its starting point for learning. This is Thorpe Willoughby Community Primary School’s nursery, part of its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) phase in Thorpe Willoughby, Selby. The nursery’s autumn opening theme, It’s all about me, starts with children’s own experiences rather than an unfamiliar topic: something they can bring to conversations as they begin making friends.

Getting to know other children is part of the learning itself. In the autumn first-half-term theme, children discuss their families and pets, then explore similarities and differences between themselves and their classmates. These are concrete subjects for practising conversation and noticing other people. Learning about the five senses adds another way to explore themselves and their surroundings.

Cinderella supplies the shared traditional story for this theme. Alongside those conversations about home and family, it gives children a story to listen to together. The EYFS is the nursery’s early learning framework; here, the examples bring together social learning, language and exploration through familiar subjects and shared activities.

Creative materials are accessible in the early years’ outdoor and indoor learning areas, so making and experimenting extend beyond one space. At the inspection on 8 and 9 November 2023, early years provision was graded Good. The early years findings highlighted language development alongside children’s independence and cooperation in play. Those findings concern the early years phase as a whole, rather than a separate nursery inspection.

An Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) supports nursery children as well as Reception children. That gives families a role specifically concerned with additional needs at this stage, rather than only a school-wide contact. Parents can contact the early years SENCO at eyfssenco@thorpewilloughby.n-yorks.sch.uk.

The early years SENCO also belongs to the school’s safeguarding team. Across the school, that team works with families and external agencies as well as children and staff. For a parent raising a concern, these roles connect early years support with the wider safeguarding structure. SENDIASS North Yorkshire provides families with impartial guidance and advice, offering a further route for discussing special educational needs and disabilities.

Separate application. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal school admissions process and meet its deadline. North Yorkshire’s local authority handles admissions to this community school; the school application route is separate from the nursery enquiry route. Choosing Seedlings should therefore be a decision about the nursery experience, with Reception admission treated as a further application.

Nursery enquiries go through the school office. Email admin@thorpewilloughby.n-yorks.sch.uk or telephone 01757703996. The school is on Londesborough Grove in Thorpe Willoughby, Selby, YO8 9NX. This provides a direct contact for families wishing to enquire about joining Seedlings Class.