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Nursery at Castle Hill Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Disco dough, long stretches of play and short carpet activities give Castle Hill's nursery its daily rhythm. This is the school's own provision for three- and four-year-olds, with entry from the term after a child's third birthday. In April 2024, Ofsted graded the school's early years provision Good, with language development and independent play among its strengths.
The nursery currently shares the school's temporary home in Centre Vale Park, on Ewood Lane in Todmorden. A return to a new building at the Halifax Road site is planned for November 2026, subject to the project staying on schedule. For families starting now, the temporary site is the practical starting point.
Children's interests shape their play, while adults extend it through questions and extra resources. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) emphasis here starts with communication, physical development, and learning to manage feelings and relationships. Reading, writing and number follow as children become ready. That gives the youngest children time to develop the skills they need to participate in learning.
A full day begins with a greeting at 8:55am, followed by disco dough at 9:00am. From 9:10am, children have time to pursue play activities before the phonics carpet session at 11:15am. Toileting routines precede lunch, which runs from 11:40am to 12:40pm. The afternoon brings another greeting activity and an extended play period; stories or rhymes feature at 2:50pm before preparations for home.
Four brief carpet sessions punctuate the day, with activities adapted to children's interests and development. There is a balance between choosing play and joining a group. In April 2024, adults prioritised vocabulary, and children developed the ability to cooperate and play independently. Those are useful foundations for expressing needs and getting along with other children.
Stay-and-play sessions before starting let children and parents become familiar with the routines together. Learning journals then keep families connected: 2Evidence me holds observations, achievements and examples of individual or group work. Regular sharing gives parents something concrete to discuss with their child at home.
Lunch can be a packed meal from home or a school dinner. Daily options include jacket potatoes with fillings, a salad bar, yoghurt and fruit. Nursery dinners are charged unless a child qualifies for free school meals; applications go through the office, and paid meals are settled ahead of time through School Gateway.
The staff structure includes a nursery nurse who also coordinates wraparound care. Parents can discuss additional needs with the school's SENDCO through the office. For children using wraparound sessions, the club's staff have childcare and early years qualifications; its food arrangements accommodate dietary requirements, and children can serve themselves breakfast and help at tea time. These are club arrangements, separate from the nursery timetable.
Nursery attendance neither guarantees a Reception place nor gives priority. Reception decisions belong to the local authority and require a separate application through Calderdale's online admissions route. Families should submit that application by the normal deadline, even when their child already attends Castle Hill's nursery. Familiarity with the school does not change the allocation process.
Choose a morning session from 8:50am to noon, an afternoon from noon to 3:15pm, or a full day from 8:50am to 3:15pm. Other attendance patterns can be agreed to suit childcare needs. Nursery applications and visits are arranged through the office on 01706 813163 or admin@castlehill.calderdale.sch.uk.
Funding merits a careful check. The nursery page describes 15 funded hours for all parents and 30 for some; the admissions policy describes an offer of 30 hours for all nursery children starting in September 2022. Confirm the arrangement applying to your booking. The admissions policy places the standard entitlement within 38 school-term weeks. Additional sessions and hours beyond entitlement attract charges; ask the school for current charges.
Wraparound places are limited. Book and pay through School Gateway at least 72 hours ahead. Breakfast club starts at 7:00am; afternoon care ends at 5:30pm, except on Fridays when it closes at 4:30pm.
Uniform is compulsory in nursery. Navy knitwear and an emerald or white shirt form part of the options; plain items may be bought elsewhere, and the school has some free second-hand uniform. The nursery collection point is the Foundation Stage yard, with morning drop-off at the Key Stage 1 gate. Confirm the gate arrangements for your start date during the building transition.
Children can start in the term after their third birthday.
Yes. Contact the school office to arrange a look around. Stay-and-play sessions are also offered before children begin.
Morning sessions run from 8:50am to noon, afternoons from noon to 3:15pm, and full days from 8:50am to 3:15pm. Other patterns may be agreed.
Yes. Children may bring a packed lunch or have a school meal. Nursery school dinners are charged unless the child is entitled to free school meals.
No. It does not guarantee a place or confer priority. Apply separately through Calderdale's online admissions process by the normal deadline.
