Rainbow Forge Primary Academy Nursery Review

Acorns and Conkers give Rainbow Forge’s youngest children their own class identities: Acorns is Pre-Nursery, while Conkers is Nursery. Provision starts from age two within the primary academy on Beighton Road in Hackenthorpe, Sheffield. Families can choose a morning, afternoon or full nursery day, making the length of the session a practical part of the choice.

At the Ofsted inspection on 5 and 6 December 2023, early years provision received a Good judgement. This covers the school’s early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Dough Disco and Squiggle while you wiggle bring named activities into the Pre-Nursery morning. Registration includes feelings, followed by breakfast and a story, then the two movement activities. Periods of play and learning alternate with outdoor time, toileting, singing and maths. It is a day built from several short stages.

The Pre-Nursery routine includes outdoor play in both the morning and afternoon. Stories and singing recur too, giving children repeated opportunities to listen and join in alongside their play. These details make the balance tangible: time outside, shared activities and care routines all have a place.

In December 2023, children across early years enjoyed learning outdoors through wild Wednesdays. Their curriculum supported preparation for the next stage, with staff monitoring progress and balancing the time children spent on different activities. For parents, the emphasis is on building knowledge and skills across the day, rather than treating each activity as an isolated event.

Breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack feature in the Pre-Nursery routine. Handwashing accompanies eating, while toileting and intimate care have their own points in the day. Personal care sits alongside learning, an important distinction for children starting at two.

The Rainbow Rules are taught from Pre-Nursery onwards, including kindness, listening and keeping others safe. Zones of Regulation is used to teach children about managing emotions. Together with the feelings check during registration, this gives emotional learning a place in everyday routines.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school adapts teaching according to need, including before diagnosis. Visual timetables are used throughout its classrooms; ear defenders and talking tins are among the equipment available across the school. Parents of children receiving SEND support are invited to at least three reviews each academic year, providing regular opportunities to discuss targets and adjustments.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place or confer an oversubscription priority. Parents must make a separate application through Sheffield local authority’s normal admissions process and meet the deadline for their entry year. Choosing the nursery is therefore a decision about the nursery experience, with a further application needed for school.

Transition support is a separate matter. For children with SEND, the school arranges meetings and transition visits with families, transfers relevant records between settings and can arrange an additional visit. These steps support familiarity and continuity of care; they do not change how places are allocated.

A full nursery day runs from 8:45am to 2:45pm. Morning sessions finish at 11:45am after an 8:45am start; afternoon sessions run from 11:45am to 2:45pm. These times also apply to Pre-Nursery, allowing families to compare the three session lengths against their daily commitments.

For enquiries or to arrange a school tour with senior staff, telephone 0114 248 7342. A visit offers an opportunity to meet teachers and discuss the nursery choice in person.