Hillside Primary School Nursery Review

Weekly outdoor learning and daily yoga give Hillside’s early years provision a rhythm that reaches beyond classroom activities. The nursery belongs to Hillside Primary School on Field Avenue in Baddeley Green, with learning organised within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 21 and 22 March 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Activities supported children’s conversation and vocabulary, giving social development a clear place alongside learning.

Children’s interests help shape an enquiry-based EYFS curriculum. In practical parent terms, teaching starts with what a child already understands, then uses activities and questions to extend that learning. Early years staff adapt activities to children’s needs and interests, so support can be built into what they are doing.

Indoor and outdoor learning spaces both feature in early years provision. Weekly outdoor sessions extend learning about the world beyond the classroom. Daily meditation and yoga introduce quieter moments, giving children opportunities to pause as well as explore.

In March 2023, early years classrooms had plentiful learning resources, with activities selected to encourage talking and interaction. Leaders had organised learning in a deliberate sequence to prepare children for their next educational stage. The emphasis was on what children would learn and when.

Early years maths tuition videos cover addition, subtraction, sharing, halving and doubling, alongside one more and one less. These give families concrete mathematical ideas to explore together, connecting home learning with early number work.

Daily conversations with early years staff give parents a route to discuss how their child is doing. Progress checks help identify additional needs, and a Passport to Learning sets individual targets where extra support is needed. Termly reviews give families opportunities to discuss those targets and the progress towards them.

For SEND concerns, the class teacher is the first contact, supported by the SENCo. Targeted work can take place individually or in small groups; specialist input includes Speech and Language Therapy and the Inclusive Learning Support Team, with parental consent required for referrals. Medical needs are supported through Care Plans involving trained staff and the School Nurse. A disabled toilet with a changing table provides a concrete facility for children who need it.

Safeguarding oversight. In March 2023, governors needed updated safeguarding training, and recording systems made it difficult for leaders to review actions and identify patterns. The findings also stated that children were not at risk. These were school-wide oversight concerns relevant to families using the nursery.

Attending Hillside’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

For September 2026 entry, the Reception application deadline was 15 January 2026. That cycle is now past. Nursery and Reception applications had distinct timetables, so families should treat the next school application as a separate decision and process.

Transition support sits alongside admissions. Internal transition weeks and detailed staff handovers pass on children’s needs, with additional arrangements for children requiring extra support. This helps the receiving team prepare for a child; it does not secure admission.

School tours can be arranged at a mutually convenient time, with visits during school hours preferred. Contact the office on 01782 235350 or office@hillsideprimary.org.uk to book.

For drop-off and collection, keep the road markings outside the gates clear and park outside the school premises. The staff car park must not be used for collecting or dropping off children attending clubs.