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Nursery at Oasis Academy Don Valley
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Two three-hour sessions give this nursery its practical shape: a morning or an afternoon, repeated across the school week. Oasis Academy Don Valley has 26 morning places and 26 afternoon places for children aged two, three and four. The nursery belongs to the academy on Leeds Road in Sheffield.
Entry depends on the type of place: statutory nursery places begin from the term after a child's third birthday, while Free Early Learning places can begin from the term after their second birthday. Availability still determines when a child starts.
Language development takes priority within the early years foundation stage (EYFS). In May 2026, children's development was tracked across the learning areas, with particular attention to the foundations of communication. For parents, that means progress is considered across a child's development rather than reduced to a single skill.
Activities respond to what children need next. Staff check development regularly and adjust learning when gaps emerge; targeted help with fine motor skills was one example of effective support in May 2026. Adult conversations and responses to children also strengthened that work. The early years provision met Ofsted's Expected standard in the inspection published on 19 May 2026. This judgement covers the school's early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.
Settling begins with familiarisation visits, including a visit to the child's home by an academy staff member. When many children start in the same term, their introduction is staggered over a short period. This gives the start of nursery a planned shape rather than expecting every new child to begin together.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) may have a longer settling period, with staff and parents working towards access to their full entitlement. Before admission, staff can also consult health services, the local authority and previous settings about a child's care, play and learning needs. That makes the family's knowledge part of preparation.
Everyday care includes learning about healthy eating and toothbrushing. In May 2026, early years staff supervised children effectively and reduced choking risks while children ate. These are practical safety habits alongside learning. Across the academy, lifts, ramps and footpaths support physical access to the site.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sheffield Local Authority's Common Application Form. For the past admissions cycle with a Reception closing date of 15 January 2026, nursery attendance was not an oversubscription priority under the 2025/2026 arrangements. Families should treat the nursery place and Reception application as separate decisions.
Transition support has its own purpose. Children with SEND moving from nursery to Reception receive a Personalised Transition Plan. EYFS Jump Up days let parents accompany children to their new class, helping them become familiar with the next setting. Those activities support the change of classroom; they do not secure admission.
Morning sessions run from 8:45am to 11:45am; afternoons run from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. The booking pattern is 15 hours each week in either mornings or afternoons, with no mixture of the two. Families are offered the first available pattern and can wait for their preferred session if that offer does not suit. Nursery holidays follow the academy's holidays.
Two-year-old Free Early Learning funding depends on eligibility, and the academy reception team can help with the check. From the term after a child's third birthday, government funding covers fifteen hours weekly; additional sessions require payment. Charges also apply where nursery education funding is not received. Contact the academy for current charges.
For nursery enquiries, call 0114 2200 400 or email info@oasisdonvalley.org. Applications go directly to the academy by post or email. Parents must report a missed session, and staff make a first-day response call when no explanation has been received.
Children aged two, three and four. Statutory nursery eligibility begins in the term after the third birthday; Free Early Learning eligibility can begin in the term after the second birthday, subject to a place being available.
Monday to Friday, mornings run from 8:45am to 11:45am and afternoons from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. The weekly pattern uses either mornings or afternoons, rather than mixing them.
Familiarisation includes a home visit. Large groups of new starters are introduced gradually, and children with SEND may have a longer settling period.
No. A separate Reception application is required through Sheffield Local Authority's Common Application Form. Nursery attendance was not a priority in the 2025/2026 admission arrangements.
Eligible two-year-olds can receive Free Early Learning funding. Government funding covers fifteen hours weekly from the term after a child's third birthday; additional sessions are charged. The academy can help check two-year-old eligibility and provide current charges.
