Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School Nursery

Storytelling gives this nursery a distinctive thread: a puppet show has linked familiar rhymes with stories, while early years learning about Diwali has brought together lamps, songs and food tasting. These are concrete ways for young children to explore language and other people's lives.

The nursery occupies one large space within Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School in Sutton Hill, Telford. Provision includes two-year-olds, with flexible funded places for three- and four-year-olds. At the Ofsted inspection on 5 and 6 November 2024, early years provision was graded Good. That judgement covers the school's early years provision rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Communication and learning alongside others are important parts of the day. In November 2024, nursery children were making fast progress in both social development and communication. Across early years, familiar routines helped children understand classroom behaviour, while carefully selected stories, books and rhymes introduced different people and places. The practical benefit is a day in which learning to talk and learning to be part of a group develop together.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) shapes the curriculum. Here, its emphasis includes emotional and social development, vocabulary and discussion. The school aims to help children express their ideas and build confidence in learning.

Diwali activities show how this can work: children examined diva lamps, heard Sikh visitors explain their celebrations and watched a Hindu family's experiences on video. Singing and tasting festival food gave the topic several different starting points. A puppet show provided another shared experience, connecting rhymes children recognised with storytelling. Forest School also forms part of the provision for younger children, adding outdoor learning to the indoor nursery space.

A nursery teacher works with nursery assistants. The wider inclusion team includes The Nest for speech and language, pastoral support and an early years deputy safeguarding lead. These distinct roles give families identifiable areas of support alongside the nursery team.

School support extends beyond classroom learning. The Rainbow Room team helps families with nursery places and contacts charities or agencies for housing and food crises. This offers practical help where family circumstances affect a child's start in education.

For special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the school's co-ordinator works with staff and outside agencies to assess and support children. The Hive is internal SEND provision, and the TLC room hosts interventions in small groups, especially for social, emotional and mental health needs. These are school resources; a child's support should be considered individually.

A separate application. Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Telford and Wrekin local authority admissions process and meet its deadline.

The local authority allocates Reception places. Factors include siblings already attending, children in care and children with the shortest walking route to school. Choosing the nursery should therefore be a decision about the early years experience itself, with the Reception application treated as a separate step.

Term-time opening runs from 8:30am to 3:15pm. Flexible funded places of 15 or 30 hours are offered for three- and four-year-olds, giving families different weekly attendance totals. Contact the school for current charges.

Nursery enquiries can go through the office on 01952 327820 or by email to office@alexanderfleming.org.uk. Parents are invited to read with their children in early years classrooms on Mondays at 8:30am, a specific opportunity to share part of their learning.

Parking. The car park is reserved for staff, and families must keep the entrance's yellow zigzag markings clear when parking or dropping off. Allow for this when planning the journey.