Moorgate Primary Academy Nursery Review

Songs, number rhymes and conversations with adults give Moorgate’s early years provision its clearest character. This is nursery education within Moorgate Primary Academy in Tamworth, with provision for two-year-olds as well as older nursery children. Learning starts small: noticing shapes, exploring numbers and developing pencil control.

Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Good at the inspection on 14 and 15 November 2023. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings care and learning together for young children. Language, movement and emotional development provide the starting points; learning then extends into early literacy, maths, creativity and understanding the world. Play, exploration and active learning are the means of developing those skills, with experiences indoors and outside.

In November 2023, adults in Moorgate’s early years used songs and counting rhymes with children, alongside opportunities to investigate numbers and shapes around them. Children also developed their pencil grip while attempting simple writing. These are concrete foundations for later learning: talking, recognising mathematical ideas and gaining control of the movements needed to write.

Adult interaction matters here. The same inspection identified skilled conversations and exchanges between staff and children in early years. For a parent, the useful distinction is that learning involves an adult responding to a child, alongside the activity itself.

Settling begins before the first term. Children joining early years are invited to summer play sessions with staff, while parents have a summer meeting to meet the new teacher. A settling period at the start of term gives that teacher time to get to know each child. In November 2023, early years children were settled, and staff planned for their development in partnership with parents.

For children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), the school uses a Graduated Response: assessing needs, planning help, trying it and reviewing its effect. Learning Passports record individual targets and are reviewed at least once each term with parental involvement. Practical resources include ear defenders and visual timetables, giving staff options for adapting the learning environment to a child’s needs. Bring any reports about your child’s needs to support discussions.

Care also has concrete arrangements. Key early years staff hold paediatric first aid certification; internal doors have finger guards, and doors use double handles. Children are reminded to wash their hands regularly. Parents discuss personal care requirements with school so that an individual support plan and risk assessment can be prepared.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must apply separately through the normal coordinated admissions process. For the 2025/26 admission year, nursery attendance did not confer priority under the applicable oversubscription criteria.

For September 2026 entry, applications could be made online or on paper, and the closing date was 15 January 2026. That cycle has passed. Families need to make a fresh Reception application for their child’s relevant entry year, even if the child already attends nursery.

Preparation for a new class is a separate matter. Teachers exchange information before children move between classes, and parents receive information about the next phase. Children with additional needs can have extra visits and meetings involving the SENCo or other agencies. This supports continuity of care; it does not change the admissions decision.

Nursery enquiries go through the academy office on 01827 215240 or office@moorgateacademy.co.uk. Tours and meetings can be arranged through the office, giving families an opportunity to meet the setting before choosing it.

For the 2025/26 nursery admission year, SUAT’s arrangements provided for 15 funded hours per week from the first term after a child’s third birthday, with privately paid places from the third birthday until then. Nursery applications were handled by the individual academy. Refer to the school for current charges.