Woolley Wood School Nursery Review

Water play, early marks and sensory exploration give Woolley Wood’s early years provision its character. Nursery learning and therapy come together around individual needs within Woolley Wood’s primary special provision, which serves children whose learning difficulties and disabilities are severe and complex.

The nursery belongs to the school’s Foundation Stage provision. In April and May 2024, its early years intake included two-year-olds. Woolley Wood shares its site with Mansel Primary School, while its own specialist resources support children whose needs extend beyond classroom learning.

Exploring textures, experimenting with colour and making marks are practical starting points for learning. Ofsted’s inspection on 30 April and 1 May 2024 described thoughtfully planned early years activities, alongside work on taking turns and moving calmly. These small social routines matter: participation is part of the learning, alongside the activity itself.

The Early Years Foundation Stage combines communication, physical development and social learning with early literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression. Woolley Wood’s provision map sets out differentiated access to these areas. Its curriculum follows children’s starting points and interests, giving them opportunities to choose, experiment and develop ideas with adult support.

Individual Pupil Learning Plans connect learning with the outcomes in each child’s Education, Health & Care Plan. That gives the nursery day a personal direction rather than expecting every child to follow an identical path. The school’s communication provision includes Makaton, sensory stories and objects of reference, providing different ways to engage with learning.

Forest Schools extends learning outdoors as a school-wide programme adapted to each child. The specialist spaces listed in the 2024 SEN report include a Sensory Room, Hydrotherapy Pool and Soft Play Room. These are school resources rather than a description of a nursery-only classroom; individual resources are selected by the multidisciplinary team according to children’s needs.

Teaching and therapy work together in early years. In April and May 2024, close collaboration between classroom and therapy staff supported children’s progress. School professionals include occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy, and parents can seek their advice.

Starting school has practical preparation tools. The social stories New School, Making Friends and Meeting New People give families material to use together. Once a child starts, a home-school folder carries their targets, team information, class newsletters and a daily account of their day. This makes communication specific to the child.

Nursery lunches are provided, with payments handled through School Gateway. Families must keep medical needs, dietary requirements and allergy information up to date. After a medical appointment, a child returning for lunch needs a meal ordered through the office before 9.30am, or a packed lunch. Current charges should be obtained from the school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Discuss your child’s next placement steps with Sheffield’s SEN Department. Woolley Wood’s admissions route is through Sheffield Children and Young People’s Directorate, SEN Department; its 2024 SEN report describes assessment of need and the school being named in the child’s Education, Health & Care Plan. The admission policy also allows some children to start nursery while assessment is still underway.

Transition support is a separate matter from admission. The SEN report describes events at key points in the school year to support changes of educational phase, with parents involved throughout. These arrangements help prepare children for change; they should not be treated as an entitlement to a place.

The entrance is on Mansel Crescent, although the postal address is Chaucer Road, Sheffield, S5 9QN. Enquiries can go to the school office on 0114 2327160 or enquiries@woolleywood.sheffield.sch.uk.

Vehicle access. A 5 mph limit applies in both car parks. Access to the main minibus car park between 9.30am and 3.30pm requires leadership permission, so families need to follow the site’s access arrangements when planning journeys.

School Gateway carries messages to parents as well as dinner payments. Keeping contact details current matters for closure notifications and other school communication.