Kiveton Park Infant School Nursery

Play, conversation and growing confidence with numbers give this nursery its character. Woodpecker is the nursery class at Kiveton Park Infant School, on Station Road in Kiveton Park. It forms part of the school's early years provision, combining activities directed by adults with learning that children choose themselves.

Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good following its inspection on 25 and 26 April 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach puts play alongside deliberate teaching. Adults guide some activities, while children initiate others. This gives children opportunities to pursue their interests as well as encounter learning introduced by the team. The school aims to develop children's language, thinking, physical skills and emotional development together.

Vocabulary receives explicit attention. The school aims to help children express themselves by teaching words and developing communication skills, giving conversation a clear educational purpose. Nursery Skills and Experiences plans organise learning across the longer term, rather than treating activities as isolated events.

Learning extends outdoors as well as indoors, with opportunities to investigate, tackle problems and explore. One nursery example is playing in snow: outdoor experiences can become part of the learning rather than simply a break from it. Woodpecker children were also included in plans for an EYFS Christmas disco in the main school hall, linking the nursery with a shared school space.

In April 2023, early years children had frequent opportunities to develop their mathematical understanding and gained confidence with numbers quickly. Books also featured from the earliest years, with a carefully selected choice for children to enjoy. These are concrete foundations for learning: exploring number and becoming familiar with stories.

Support for additional needs follows the school's Graduated Response. Staff assess a child's needs, plan support, put it into practice and review it, adapting the approach as their understanding of the child develops. The school aims to intervene early, so support can respond to difficulties as they emerge.

Parents are part of that process. Teachers speak with families when they think an intervention could help; parents can raise concerns with the class teacher or the special educational needs coordinator (SENCo). This gives families a direct route into discussions about their child's learning.

In December 2023, Dolce staff at Todwick school kitchen prepared the school's meals. Families were asked to order choices for the March 2024 World Book Day lunch through School Grid.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Rotherham Admissions, rather than treating their nursery application as an application for school.

The distinction matters when planning ahead: joining Woodpecker and securing a Reception place are separate decisions. Nursery applications go to the school office; Reception applications follow the Rotherham route.

The school office handles nursery applications and enquiries. Families can make contact in person, telephone 01909 770303 or email school@kpi.jmat.org.uk to discuss attendance. The completed nursery application form is returned to the office.

That gives parents one point of contact for the nursery application, while keeping the separate Reception process clear. For discussions about learning after joining, the class teacher is the direct contact.