Norton-Le-Moors Primary Academy Nursery

Sounds, books and daily reading with an adult defined the early literacy approach described in September 2022. Nursery children encountered sounds that prepared them for their next stage of reading, while books taken home connected learning in class with reading together as a family. The emphasis was concrete: hearing sounds, recognising them and beginning to use them in books.

Norton-Le-Moors Primary Academy has nursery provision within its primary school in Stoke-on-Trent. At the Ofsted inspection on 28 and 29 September 2022, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the early years provision within the school.

Reading provides a regular point of contact with an adult. In September 2022, children across early years read to an adult each day, giving them opportunities to practise rather than leaving reading solely to group activities. For a parent, the useful distinction is the direct adult involvement: a child has someone listening as they work through a book.

Phonics introduces the relationship between sounds and written words. Nursery children were encountering sounds they would meet again in Reception, giving them an initial acquaintance with this part of learning to read. The September 2022 findings described effective phonics learning across early years and a prompt beginning to reading.

Books taken home were matched to sounds already taught. That connection matters: practice at home follows learning the child has encountered, rather than asking them to tackle unfamiliar sounds independently. Together, adult reading and matched books give families a specific picture of the nursery's approach to early literacy.

Take-home reading creates a connection between nursery learning and family time. In September 2022, the match between books and taught sounds meant that parents could share material linked to their child's learning. It gives reading together a clear purpose.

For families, the practical implication is straightforward: use the familiar sounds in the book as a starting point for shared practice. This is a connection through learning, with the child revisiting something already introduced in early years.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery entry and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again for Reception through the normal admissions route and meet the relevant deadline. Treat choosing the nursery and securing a school place as separate decisions.

The nursery's introduction to sounds used in Reception concerns learning preparation. It should not be read as an admissions advantage. Familiarity with early reading sounds and entitlement to a place are different questions, even when nursery provision sits within the same school.

The academy is on Norton Lane, in Stoke-on-Trent, with postcode ST6 8BZ. Families can contact the school by telephone on 01782 234 792 or email norton@nmat.org.uk. These provide a direct enquiry route for the nursery.

The school also has a virtual tour. For families considering the setting, this offers another way to look at the academy alongside making direct contact.