Pye Bank CofE Primary School Nursery Review

An obstacle course built by children gives a concrete picture of Pye Bank’s early years: learning involves doing, talking and trying things out. In June 2022, children understood that using their course would help them practise balance. Physical activity had a learning purpose.

The nursery is Foundation Stage 1 within Pye Bank CofE Primary School on Andover Street, Sheffield. Provision starts at age three. Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Good following its inspection on 8 and 9 June 2022; this was an early years judgement within the school inspection.

Morning and afternoon sessions provide two distinct parts of the nursery timetable. Within the early years foundation stage (EYFS), the June 2022 learning pattern combined adult teaching with opportunities for children to try out their learning themselves. Mathematics and science featured, followed by practice independently or alongside an adult in a small group. For parents, that means a combination of guided learning and opportunities to apply it.

Language also mattered. In June 2022, adults used questions to extend children’s thinking and helped them add words to their vocabulary. Children sustained their attention while finishing activities. Outdoors, the child-built obstacle course connected movement with an understanding of balance, making physical development something children could discuss as well as practise.

Across the Foundation Stage, early handwriting work focuses on controlling a pencil and developing both small hand movements and larger movements before progressing to lower-case letter formation. Letter-Join is the school’s handwriting scheme. This places preparation for writing alongside the eventual task of forming letters.

Settling begins with opportunities to become familiar with people and routines. For children starting in Foundation, visits take place during the latter half of the summer term, with individual meetings between parents and the class teacher. Home visits are also part of Foundation Stage practice. These give families and staff time to get to know one another before the start.

Additional needs sit within the school’s support structure, which includes a SENDCO and assistant SENDCO. The school works with the Speech and Language Service and Early Years Inclusion, linking classroom support with specialist assessment and advice. Parents of children with SEND meet the class teacher at least termly to discuss progress and support; copies of Support Plans are shared with families. That gives discussions a written reference point.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the normal admissions route, by the local authority deadline. For September 2027 entry, nursery attendance carries no priority within the oversubscription criteria.

Applications can be made online or using the Common Application Form, with a Supplementary Information Form used to support the application where applicable. Familiarity with the school is separate from allocation. The school’s transition programme includes teachers passing on information about children’s progress and needs to the next class teacher, helping continuity of support.

The nursery morning runs from 08:30 to 11:30; the afternoon runs from 12:15 to 15:15. These are separate session times, so families should plan collection around the nursery timetable.

Pye Bank follows Sheffield City Council’s school calendar, and pupils do not attend on INSET days. Nursery enquiries can go to the school office on 0114 276 0472 or by email to enquiries@pbp.dsat.education. The address is Andover Street, Sheffield, S3 9EF.