Crofton Infant School Nursery Review

Chickens, beach days and outdoor learning give Crofton’s nursery a character beyond the classroom. For children aged 3–4, this is a school-based start with opportunities to become familiar with the wider school environment. The nursery class is called Caterpillars. Children belong to school life from the beginning, rather than joining only when Reception starts.

Families can choose morning, afternoon or full-day attendance, subject to funding entitlement and availability. That makes the session pattern a practical part of the choice: a shorter session and a full day require different collection arrangements.

Communication and language are central to the nursery’s approach, alongside early phonics and introductory learning. The emphasis gives children opportunities to develop how they express themselves while beginning to explore sounds. Early Years staff support children as individuals.

Outdoor provision adds active learning to the day. Visits to the chickens, beach days and practical experiences extend the nursery’s activities beyond classroom work. These are concrete experiences for young children to talk about and explore. The school environment itself also becomes familiar through participation in wider school life.

Caterpillars provides a named nursery class within that larger setting. For families who want an introduction to school routines, this combination of a nursery group and access to the surrounding school is a defining feature.

The school kitchen prepares meals daily and caters for halal, lactose-free and sensory dietary needs. Ask the office about lunch arrangements for your child’s nursery session. The school excludes nut products, including items labelled as potentially containing nuts, so lunchbox choices need care.

Support extends to families. The school’s Wellbeing Team helps with practical matters such as forms, transport routes and finding other services. An Emotional Literacy Support Assistant works with children, while the school’s SEND approach includes adjustments to help children access their environment. These are school-wide resources.

Parents use My Child at School (MCAS) for permissions, bookings, payments and appointments for parents’ evenings. An app and a browser version give families two ways to manage these arrangements. Safeguarding training takes place annually, with further briefings for staff during the year.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application for full-time school through Wakefield School Admissions. Treat choosing the nursery and applying for Reception as two distinct decisions.

Familiarity is a different benefit. Nursery children have opportunities to get to know the school environment before the move to Reception. That preparation concerns the child’s experience; it does not secure an admission offer.

Morning sessions run from 8:30am to 11:30am; afternoons run from 12:15pm to 3:15pm. The 30-hour nursery day runs from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Both 15-hour and 30-hour funded places depend on eligibility and availability. An additional 45 minutes can be purchased where available; contact the office for current charges.

The school does not currently run wraparound care itself. Clubhouse and Little Learners are local providers used by families, so parents needing a longer day will need separate arrangements.

Uniform is expected, with prior exceptions possible for needs such as sensory difficulties. An exchange point in the school’s main reception supports reuse. The school follows Wakefield term dates and has five staff training days each year. Contact the office on 01924 967606 or croftoninfantadmin@watertonacademytrust.org for nursery enquiries or to arrange a visit.