Dove Bank Primary School Nursery

Little Ladybirds, Busy Bees and Big Butterflies give Dove Bank’s nursery a distinct identity within the primary school. Children can start at age 2, with three key worker groups shaping their progression. Moves between groups take account of development as well as age, so readiness matters alongside birthdays.

Big Butterflies has its own room for children in the year before they start school. This gives the final nursery year a recognisable base while keeping it part of the school’s early years provision.

Crates, large blocks, sand and water make outdoor learning practical. Indoors, children can choose pretend play, games, painting or collage, with a book corner for reading. The balance includes activities led by teachers and nursery nurses alongside independent play. Children have opportunities to choose a project and keep working on it, rather than simply move through adult instructions.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework. Its seven learning areas begin with children’s physical development, communication and language, and personal, social and emotional development. For parents, that means learning includes how children talk, move and manage relationships. Literacy, understanding the world, expressive arts and design, and mathematics build on those foundations. Activities are planned around children’s developmental stages and individual needs.

Phonics forms part of early reading and writing, while sharing, taking turns and doing things independently also receive attention. Learning happens outside as well as indoors, through exploration, active play and creative thinking. A concrete example came in October 2025, when Big Butterflies followed a reading of We’re going on a Bear Hunt with a barefoot walk. The story became something children could experience physically.

Key worker groups provide the nursery’s care structure, with children changing groups when they are ready. Big Butterflies has a nursery nurse and an assistant. For families, the group structure provides a useful starting point for understanding who works with their child and how progression is organised.

Across the school, SEND support follows a cycle of assessing needs, planning help, delivering it and reviewing its impact. Parents are involved in planning and supporting development, and external agencies can contribute where appropriate. This gives families a role in shaping support as needs change.

The school’s catering team makes fresh lunches each day. Meals therefore form part of the wider school provision.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception require separate applications, so families must apply again through the normal Reception process at the appropriate time.

For 2027/28 entry, nursery attendance gives no Reception priority. Applications go through the Staffordshire admissions system using its primary school application form. Choose the nursery for the experience it offers your child, while treating the later school application as a separate decision and process.

Children can join during the school year. The school aims to accommodate session choices that suit family circumstances, subject to places being available. A visit can be arranged through the school office, giving parents an opportunity to meet staff and discuss the provision before applying.

The next step is an expression of interest, submitted electronically by email or on paper through the office. Staff then check session availability and contact the family to discuss a place and further paperwork.

Eligible families can use 15 or 30 funded hours for children aged 3 and 4, beginning in the term after their third birthday. Some families also qualify for funding for 2-year-olds. Parents are responsible for obtaining their funding code, with help from the school office if needed. Contact the school for current charges.