Southey Green Nursery: Learning Through Colour and Conversation

Colour mixing, a rainbow tray and conversation give Southey Green’s nursery provision its character. Southey Nursery and Southey Tots form part of Southey Green Nursery & Primary School on Crowder Avenue in Sheffield. The younger provision accepts children in the term following their second birthday, bringing an early start to school life.

In January 2026, Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision to meet the Expected standard. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Communication, predictable routines and relationships with familiar adults are the clearest features of the provision.

Language has a practical purpose here. In January 2026, the early years curriculum gave priority to helping children communicate, with staff training focused on their conversations with children. During snacks, communication boards helped the 2-year-olds indicate which drink they wanted. A small everyday decision becomes an opportunity to express a preference.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning described here combines communication, growing independence and preparation for writing. Children receive help to manage their feelings and take part in activities more independently through predictable routines. The January 2026 findings also identified a clear emphasis on getting children ready to write. These are foundations for learning as well as practical skills for the nursery day.

Colour Day shows what exploration can look like. At a nursery stay and play, children investigated white flowers placed in coloured water and watched colour travel between beakers. The rainbow tray provided a surface for making marks and talking about colours. Shaving foam became another material for observing colour movement, while syringes let children transfer coloured water and create mixtures themselves. These activities give children something concrete to discuss, observe and change.

Southey Tots explored coloured powder mixed with water and cornflour, then combined colours to discover new ones. The materials differ between the two groups, but both examples connect hands-on exploration with noticing what happens.

Familiar adults matter. In January 2026, key persons were matched carefully to groups of children to build relationships. Early years behaviour was calm, and established routines helped children regulate their emotions. This gives the day a dependable structure alongside the exploratory activities.

Parents can remain with their children in Nursery Year while they settle. Close relationships with families also supported children as they moved between stages of the early years provision. For a child finding separation difficult, this makes settling a shared process with their parent.

Children needing additional help with communication received effective speech and language support in January 2026. Snack time also served as a supported communication opportunity for the youngest group. For early years children, lunch begins at 11:30am.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sheffield Primary Admissions, with applications closing on 15 January each year. Apply through the normal process even if your child already attends the nursery; familiarity with the school does not replace that application.

Visits can be arranged by contacting the school. Call 0114 2326879 or email enquiries@southeygreen.sheffield.sch.uk to make an enquiry. A visit gives families an opportunity to consider the school environment before choosing the provision.