Springhead Primary School Nursery Review

Shakespeare reaches even the nursery at Springhead: children have explored a scene from The Tempest alongside a day built around play. That gives this school nursery in Talke Pits a distinctive touch, while its everyday focus remains children's interests, language and independence.

Children join from the term following their third birthday. The nursery belongs to Springhead Primary School's Early Years provision, with a nursery class teacher and teaching assistant. The wider school grounds are accessible, with views towards the Cheshire and Staffordshire countryside; nursery learning takes place inside and outside.

Play combines children's own choices with adult guidance. Staff introduce ideas, ask questions and demonstrate language, giving children room to follow an interest while extending what they can do with it. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) supplies the framework: talking and listening, movement and relationships sit alongside early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world.

The detail is practical. Stories, songs and small groups give children opportunities to talk; threading, tools and making marks exercise the smaller movements needed for writing. Climbing, running and balance develop physical coordination. Sharing and cooperation are practised through play and routines, with adults helping children recognise and manage feelings.

Maths grows out of everyday experiences involving counting, measurement and shapes. Children investigate nature and simple technology, explore materials through art, and use movement and imaginative play to express ideas. Exploring The Tempest adds a specific example of drama to that mix. Adults also observe how children tackle learning, including whether they keep trying, investigate possibilities and develop their own ideas.

Settling is approached through relationships with children and their families. The nursery aims to help children feel secure as they begin attending, rather than treating the move into education solely as a timetable change. EvidenceMe records significant learning moments and shares progress updates with families, giving parents a connection to what their child has been doing.

For concerns about development, communication or wellbeing, the first contact is the child's class teacher, followed by a meeting with the school's SEND coordinator if further discussion is needed. Springhead aims to identify additional needs early and work with families and external agencies.

Children staying for lunch can bring food from home or have a charged school meal. Edwards & Ward provides the school's catering, with seasonal menus, vegan and vegetarian choices, and support for medically prescribed diets. Dietary requirements can be discussed with the office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Staffordshire County Council's online route. The closing date is usually mid-January each year, so choosing the nursery should sit alongside planning that later application.

Term-time attendance has several patterns. The universal 15 hours can be taken as five mornings, 8:45am to 11:45am, or five afternoons, 12:15pm to 3:15pm. A full-time place runs Monday to Friday, 8:45am to 3:15pm, totalling 32.5 hours.

Some families qualify for 30 funded hours. For eligible families, the fully funded pattern runs 8:45am to 3:15pm Monday to Thursday and finishes at 11:45am on Friday, with no lunchtime supervision charge. On the 32.5-hour pattern, the extra 2.5 hours beyond the 30-hour entitlement are charged. Lunch supervision from 11:45am to 12:15pm is charged for children staying on either the 15-hour or 32.5-hour timetable.

Extra sessions beyond the universal entitlement may be possible for part-time children whose families do not qualify for 30 hours. These bookings are temporary and reviewed at least each term. Contact the school office at office@springhead.staffs.sch.uk or 01782 973845 for nursery enquiries and current charges.