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Nursery at Hirst Wood Nursery 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
An enclosed outdoor area used throughout the year and books that travel home give Hirst Wood’s nursery day a practical, exploratory character. Children can get muddy, borrow stories and take learning beyond the classroom. This nursery school on Clarence Road in Shipley has a recorded age range of two to five. Maple and Chestnut feature in its daily timetable, while additional local authority resources support provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The day balances adult guidance with children choosing their own activities. At 9am, children register themselves before an adult-led activity alongside resources they can use independently. From 9.30am to 11am, they can move between indoor activities and outdoor play. Group time then leads into toileting and handwashing before lunch. The afternoon brings another group session, independent activities and further outdoor play, with a final group gathering before the day ends.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learning takes practical form through play, conversation and everyday routines. Trips can include Hirst Wood, using Forest School teaching strategies, as well as Saltaire centre and the local park. These experiences give children opportunities to notice the weather and seasonal changes. At home, families can continue exploring through the maths lending library’s puzzles, games and jigsaws; the book lending library sits in the corridor opposite the kitchen.
At the November 2023 inspection, Ofsted identified communication and language as a priority, with frequent reading and books selected to help children understand feelings. It also required clearer sequences of knowledge, experiences and vocabulary in some curriculum areas, because gaps in those small steps interrupted the coherence of learning. That is a useful balance for parents: purposeful language work, alongside a specific curriculum issue to consider.
Settling begins before the first nursery day. Stay and Play sessions run every six weeks during the preceding term, introducing children and parents to classmates, staff and the building. CHIP, the Children’s Information Pack, includes classroom and staff photographs, plus visual symbols associated with a child’s belongings and registration. It gives families something concrete to revisit together.
An individual introductory appointment covers interests, areas where help may be needed, medical needs, allergies and diet. Once children start, EYLog records work, photographs and staff observations, with parents encouraged to contribute experiences from home. Communication calls take place twice a year. Lunch is staggered: Maple uses the Community Room and Gallery, while Chestnut eats in the Gallery, with outdoor play alternating between the groups.
Co-regulation shapes the behaviour approach: adults help children manage emotions, and restorative practice gives children opportunities to repair harm. For children with SEND, support involves their Key Person, the Woodlands team and external professionals where appropriate. Individual Educational Plans are developed with parents and reviewed each term, giving families a regular role in planning support. All classroom staff hold paediatric first-aid training.
A nursery place does not guarantee a Reception place at a primary school. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for primary school as separate decisions.
For children with SEND, staff work with parents and carers to support the move to their next school. This transition support concerns the child’s preparation and needs; it does not secure an admission place.
The school day runs from 9am to 3.15pm. Sunshine Club extends provision before school from 7.45am and after school until 5.45pm, making those boundaries useful when planning work and collection.
Visits can be arranged during nursery sessions and include a tour, brief meetings with staff and discussion of provision and the before and after school club. Telephone 01274 584368 to arrange an appointment.
There is no uniform. Choose weather-appropriate clothes that can cope with paint, glue, playdough and mud: outdoor learning continues throughout the year, so clothing is part of preparing for the day.
The school day is 9am to 3.15pm. Sunshine Club opens before school at 7.45am, and its after-school session finishes at 5.45pm.
Stay and Play sessions take place every six weeks in the term before starting. Families also have an individual introductory appointment and receive CHIP, a pack with photographs and visual information to share with their child.
EYLog holds photographs, work and observations, and parents can contribute experiences from home. Communication calls take place twice a year.
Children with SEND receive support from their Key Person, the Woodlands team and, where appropriate, external professionals. Individual Educational Plans are developed with parents and reviewed termly.
No. Families must apply separately for Reception through the normal admissions process by the applicable deadline.
