High Crags Primary Leadership Academy Nursery

Purposeful play gives this nursery its direction: children develop early number and literacy skills while learning about themselves and their surroundings. It is the nursery provision within High Crags Primary Leadership Academy on Crag Road, Shipley. Younger children are part of the early years provision too: in June 2024, it included eight two-year-olds. That is a dated attendance figure, rather than a measure of nursery capacity.

Play has a learning purpose here. Activities are planned around children’s interests and needs, with opportunities to test ideas, practise skills and become more independent. Learning also includes managing behaviour and understanding why rules matter. For parents, the emphasis is on development through activity, alongside the beginnings of reading, writing and mathematics.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings these strands together. Its seven learning areas include movement, conversation and emotional development, alongside mathematics, literacy, creativity and discovering how the world works. Speaking and listening help children express themselves; physical activity develops coordination; relationships and group experiences help them understand feelings and other people. These are practical foundations for taking part in learning.

Number work goes beyond reciting a sequence. At the June 2024 inspection, nursery children explored different ways of showing five, using these to develop addition and subtraction. This gives a concrete example of how early mathematics builds understanding. Staff also observe children regularly and use assessment to shape subsequent learning around their needs.

Stories bring another dimension. In January 2025, nursery children had the opportunity to explore the Bradford Stories Bus during its school visit. Bookshelves and comfortable seating turned the converted bus into a space for storytelling. Children could choose a free book to take home, extending the experience into family reading.

Class teachers are the first contact for families within the academy’s pastoral structure. They keep parents informed about issues affecting learning, with support from the Pastoral Manager and the Assistant Headteacher responsible for SEND and inclusion. This gives families a clear starting point for discussing concerns and a route to further support.

MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) brings school communications and information about children’s school records into one parent portal. Safeguarding procedures apply across the academy: adults working regularly on site must undergo DBS checks, visitors are supervised, and staff receive child protection training. These arrangements extend to the school setting in which the nursery operates.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as separate decisions.

The early years team plans learning across nursery and Reception. That connects curriculum planning between the stages; it does not establish an admissions advantage.

The academy’s address is Crag Road, Shipley, BD18 2ES. Enquiries can be made by calling 01274 584 068 or emailing info@highcrags.staracademies.org.

Families can arrange a school tour through the office. There is also an Early Years virtual tour, giving parents another way to explore the setting before deciding whether to visit.