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Nursery at Walkley Primary School
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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Elmers gives Walkley’s youngest children a class of their own, with a teacher and two teaching assistants. Nursery starts at age three, and families can choose mornings, afternoons or full days. It sits within Walkley Primary School’s early years provision, with a curriculum shaped around the local community, seasonal changes and nature near the school.
At the November 2023 Ofsted inspection, early years provision was graded Good within the school inspection. That judgement covers early years as a whole; it is not a separate nursery rating.
Conversation has a prominent place in the curriculum. Walkley prioritises communication and language, so learning to express ideas and understand other people runs alongside early reading, number work and creative activity. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) also brings movement, relationships and emotional development into children’s learning. For parents, this means the curriculum extends beyond preparation for reading and writing.
Play has its own progression plans. Playdough, role play, construction and sand and water appear among the EYFS continuous provision areas, alongside craft and reading. These give children different ways to explore materials, practise skills and develop ideas. The curriculum also uses direct experiences to connect children’s surroundings with places, cultures and nature elsewhere.
School routines include a visual timetable in each classroom. Pictures are taken away as activities finish, giving children a visible indication of what comes next. Individual Now and Next Boards can also help children who find uncertainty stressful or struggle to concentrate.
In November 2023, children generally participated readily in purposeful activities and cooperated in play and learning. Adult conversation was less consistent: opportunities to deepen understanding and introduce vocabulary were sometimes missed, limiting what children gained from an activity. Training staff to make more of these exchanges was an early years improvement priority.
Settling begins with a meeting involving the child, parents or carers and the pastoral team, lasting no more than 30 minutes. The team discusses the child’s needs and settling sessions. Initial visits are brief, with time increased gradually. This gives families a staged introduction rather than an immediate move to their complete session pattern.
Parents’ observations contribute to EYFS planning alongside staff observations of children’s interests and development. That makes experiences at home relevant to what happens in class.
Support includes a school Inclusion and Safeguarding Team, while early years social skills groups provide a specific route for work on relationships. Parents can arrange conversations with pastoral staff, including regular appointments. Across the school, staff share responsibility for identifying and assessing special educational needs, giving families a route to discuss barriers to learning.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Sheffield Primary Admissions, following the normal process; the school gives 15 January each year as the closing date. Treat that application as a separate task even if your child is already settled in Elmers.
Nursery admission is independent of whether a child is expected to join the school’s Foundation Stage. Choosing this nursery therefore need not depend on choosing Walkley for the next stage.
Morning nursery runs from 08:50 to 11:20; afternoon nursery runs from 12:35 to 15:05. Families indicate preferred sessions on their application, and the office responds about places. Allocations take place across the school year.
Universal funding provides 15 hours from the term following a child’s third birthday. For families eligible for the working parents scheme, extended funded hours are accepted subject to space. Additional paid sessions also depend on availability. Agreed extras are invoiced each half term, payable ahead of attendance, and remain chargeable when missed. Contact the school for current charges.
Request an application through enquiries@walkley.sheffield.sch.uk or telephone 0114 2340550; completed forms can be emailed or taken to the office.
Children can start from age three. Universal entitlement funding begins in the term after their third birthday.
Morning, afternoon and full day sessions are offered. Morning sessions run from 08:50 to 11:20, and afternoon sessions from 12:35 to 15:05.
Families meet the pastoral team with their child to discuss settling sessions. Visits start short and become longer according to the child’s and family’s needs.
No. Families must apply separately through Sheffield Primary Admissions. The school gives an annual closing date of 15 January.
Contact the office at enquiries@walkley.sheffield.sch.uk or on 0114 2340550 for an application form. Include preferred sessions; the office will respond about availability.
