Wharncliffe Side Primary School Nursery Review

Woodland exploration, Little Wandle phonics and a nursery Integrated Resource provision give Wharncliffe Side’s nursery its character: outdoor learning sits alongside early language work, with children learning together across the provision. The nursery serves children aged 2 to 5 and moved into a new building in autumn 2024. It forms part of the school’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Ofsted graded early years provision Good at the inspection on 2 and 3 November 2022. That judgement predates the building move. No two-year-olds were enrolled at the time, so the inspection considered plans and arrangements for that age group rather than their experience in practice.

Children’s own choices alternate with activities led by adults. Group sessions bring together maths, literacy and learning across topics; children’s interests also help shape the day. The EYFS curriculum covers seven learning areas, with individual starting points informing what comes next. In practical terms, children have opportunities to pursue an idea themselves as well as join focused teaching.

Little Wandle provides the phonics approach. Language was a clear strength in November 2022: adults demonstrated new words, encouraged children to try them in conversation and used stories to develop understanding. Children joined in with a familiar story and retold it to an adult. These are concrete opportunities to practise speaking, listening and remembering.

Forest schools sessions take learning into the woodland grounds, giving children space to explore outdoors. Animal encounters and yearly seaside trips extend experiences beyond the usual setting. Together, these bring a different kind of learning alongside the group sessions.

Key workers support each child’s termly targets and record evidence through Tapestry. Parents receive photographs and information about learning, while workshops let them take part in activities themselves. Regular parent meetings add opportunities to discuss development. Communication therefore includes both snapshots of the day and conversations about progress.

In November 2022, adults explicitly taught school routines to help children settle and begin learning. Inclusion also has a practical structure: children from the nursery Integrated Resource provision learn alongside others, with additional interventions used where children need help. Across the school, support can progress from classroom teaching to small groups and then outside services, with parent meetings included at that stage.

The school’s catering team, Taylor Shaw, prepares meals on site under the Food for Life Bronze Award. Packed lunches are also an option. Medical diets require supporting medical evidence before an agreed menu is introduced. The nursery lead also holds a deputy safeguarding role, connecting nursery leadership with the school’s safeguarding team.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the normal deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for school as separate decisions.

Preparation for that move is part of the nursery curriculum, with transition links supporting children heading to Wharncliffe Side or another setting. Staff work with parents over the move to school. That preparation is useful wherever a child goes next; it does not establish an admissions advantage.

Nursery places operate within a 9am to 3pm window. Funding options include 15 hours for three- and four-year-olds, 30 hours for eligible three- and four-year-olds, and 15 hours for eligible two-year-olds. Families can also purchase additional sessions for children aged two, three and four. Contact the school for current charges.

Wraparound care is available from age 2, with breakfast club starting at 7:30am and after-school care running until 6pm. Both operate on site, with staff transferring children between clubs and classes. Drinks and snacks are included, with allergies taken into account.

Places depend on staffing ratios and can be booked up to a half-term ahead. Regular bookings use a contract; occasional sessions can be reserved through ParentPay until midnight the previous night. Same-day requests are made by telephone and depend on space. This gives families several booking routes, but availability still matters.

For enquiries, use enquiries@wharncliffeside.sheffield.sch.uk or 0114 2862379. Visits are encouraged. The school asks children to wear navy or jade tops, dark bottoms and sensible black footwear; tops can carry the logo or be unbranded.