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Nursery at Ballifield 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Dinosaurs, woodland animals and messy play give Ballifield’s nursery its character. For children aged three to four, this is the school’s Foundation Stage 1 provision in Handsworth, Sheffield. Play and outdoor learning form part of the day, with practical expectations to match: easy-fastening clothes, suitable footwear and a coat for changing weather.
Flexible attendance is another defining feature. Children with the standard 15-hour allocation can attend whole days instead of half days, while eligible families can use the extended 30-hour provision. That gives parents different ways to organise nursery attendance around family routines.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together seven areas of learning. In parent terms, that means developing movement, conversation and relationships alongside early reading, number skills, creativity and understanding the world. Exploring through play is part of the curriculum, and aprons are supplied for messy activities, allowing children to take part in practical exploration.
Topics have included traditional stories, aliens and adventures, as well as dinosaurs and woodland animals. These give families concrete subjects to talk about at home. A topic newsletter goes home each half term, linking parents with what children are learning.
Outdoor learning is part of the daily routine. A raincoat helps children prepare for changeable conditions. Reading also has an early foothold: Ofsted’s March 2022 inspection identified an emphasis on reading beginning in the early years.
The EYFS staff operate as a team, and parents can discuss their child’s development with any member of that team. This gives families a direct route for conversations about how their child is getting on.
A piece of fruit is offered to every child each day at no charge. Children are encouraged to bring a refillable plastic water bottle bearing their name. Those attending for the whole day need a packed lunch in a named bag or lunchbox, with healthy choices encouraged.
Food preparation matters too. Packed-lunch guidance requires small round foods such as grapes to be quartered lengthways, and cheese to be sliced into strips. Popcorn and hard sweets are excluded. Items that do not meet the guidance cannot be eaten, so these rules need to shape lunch packing.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application to the Primary Admissions Team, online or by paper application form. Reception places are allocated through the council’s admissions procedure. Choosing the nursery therefore leaves a further application to complete for school entry.
Morning sessions run from 8:40am until 11:40am; afternoons run from 12:20pm until 3:20pm. The whole-day option for children allocated 15 hours is useful for parents who prefer fewer, longer attendance periods.
For a nursery application or visit, contact the school office on 0114 269 7557. Uniform is required: a navy logo sweatshirt or cardigan, dark bottoms and a red, yellow, green or white polo shirt. Open-toed sandals and jelly shoes are excluded. Clothes children can manage themselves support the nursery’s emphasis on independence. Tell the school promptly about absence, and notify staff if collection arrangements change.
The nursery caters for children aged three to four and is the school’s Foundation Stage 1 provision.
Morning sessions are 8:40am to 11:40am, and afternoon sessions are 12:20pm to 3:20pm.
Yes. Children allocated the standard 15 hours can take them as whole days rather than half days. The nursery also offers 30-hour provision for those eligible for the extended hours offer.
Children staying all day need a packed lunch in a named bag or lunchbox. A named refillable plastic water bottle is encouraged, and every child is offered a free daily piece of fruit. Packed lunches must follow the school’s food-safety guidance.
No. A separate Reception application must go to the Primary Admissions Team, online or by paper application form. Nursery admission gives no right of entry to the school.
