Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School Nursery

A mud kitchen, a herb garden and stories shared around tree stumps give Mackie Hill’s Foundation Stage a distinctly practical character. There is room for sensory exploration as well as books. The nursery belongs to Crigglestone Mackie Hill Junior and Infant School on Painthorpe Lane in Crigglestone, Wakefield, with children eligible to begin in the term following their third birthday.

A nursery teacher is listed within the teaching team, alongside teaching assistants working across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). For families, this places the nursery within the school’s early education provision, with teaching and support roles identified separately.

Outdoor learning has specific places and materials here. Foundation Stage children have ongoing access to activities in their playground and beneath a shelter. A gravel bed provides space for car play; rainwater collectors and a raised planting bed bring water and growing into the learning environment. The tree-stump story circle gives books an outdoor setting, while the herb garden adds scents and textures to explore.

Learning also includes understanding how to learn. Mackie Hill Learning Powers and Mackie Mascots are introduced from Nursery to help children understand learning behaviours, manage themselves and develop the skills involved in organising their thinking. Recognition boards, Class Dojo and Friday celebration assemblies acknowledge these behaviours. This gives children familiar references for talking about their effort and learning.

The January 2025 inspection described early years learning built around books, purposeful play and language development. Children showed independence and worked positively with one another. A superhero-themed class book prompted discussion of ambitious vocabulary, including heroic, calamity and courageous. The emphasis is on developing conversation and understanding alongside children’s play. Early writing needed more attention: mistakes in letter formation were not reliably picked up or corrected. That is a relevant consideration for parents following their child’s first writing experiences.

Clear routines supported early years children’s behaviour in January 2025, helping them understand expectations and respond positively. This makes the organisation of the day part of their learning, alongside the activities themselves.

Home communication uses Class Dojo for learning information, letters, events and important dates. Access requires a verified email account, and office staff help families through the process. Parents therefore have a defined channel for receiving updates. For additional needs, the school provides a SENCo contact at senco@mackiehill.wakefield.sch.uk and links families to Wakefield Parent Carer Forum. Safeguarding concerns should be taken to a designated safeguarding lead.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the WMDC Admissions Team. Keep that application separate from registering for Nursery: the nursery list is held by the school, while Reception applications follow the council route.

There is continuity in the learning language. The mascots introduced from Nursery continue into Reception, giving children familiar references as they move to their next class. That educational continuity is separate from the allocation of places.

To register interest in Nursery, telephone the school office on 01924 303520 and request that your child’s name be added to the admissions list. The school also welcomes appointments to look around, giving prospective families a way to arrange a school visit.

The office can be contacted at office@mackiehill.wakefield.sch.uk. For Reception applications, use the council’s online admissions route or contact admissions@wakefield.gov.uk.