Sandal Magna Community Academy Nursery

Pear picking, puddle jumping and stories such as Superworm give Sandal Magna’s nursery a practical, playful character. This is the school’s Lower Foundation Stage, serving children aged three and four, with an annual nursery intake of 52. It sits within Sandal Magna Community Academy on Belle Vue Road in Wakefield.

Ofsted judged the early years provision Good at the inspection on 1 and 2 November 2022. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Learning starts with things children can handle, discuss and try. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings together language, movement, relationships, early reading, mathematics and exploration. Here, those strands meet in activities such as planting seeds, investigating shadows and using toys to explore pushing and pulling. Children practise skills through play and conversation.

Stories give that learning a focus. Jasper’s Beanstalk accompanies growing activities, while Farmer Duck introduces vocabulary about feelings and farm life. Early reading includes daily shared books, poems and nursery rhymes. Listening games, rhyming and oral blending build attention to sounds; drawing and meaningful marks give children ways to begin expressing ideas on paper.

Practical exploration extends outdoors. The nursery curriculum includes collecting pears, leaves and twigs, caring for plants and learning to use bikes and a climbing frame safely. Friday PE takes place outside. In November 2022, the nursery room was light and roomy, and outdoor learning offered engaging opportunities. Early years staff understood young children’s learning and used questions and examples of spoken language to help children exchange ideas. Conversation has a clear purpose here.

Creative work is equally concrete: children try vegetable printing, make animal collages and build model boats to investigate floating. These activities connect choosing materials with testing what they can do.

Independence is part of the nursery’s stated aim. Children practise recognising when they need a drink or the toilet, washing their hands and putting resources away. Food education includes identifying fruit and vegetables as snack choices and recognising milk and water as healthy drinks. Bring a water bottle: staff wash it and replenish the water daily.

Parents receive nursery activity updates through class Twitter, including Star of the Week. For additional needs, the school’s SENCO works with teachers and support staff, involving families in decisions. Early Years uses picture signs and Makaton-based signs, giving children another way to understand information. Parents can raise concerns with the SENCO through the school office.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through the local authority; Wakefield residents use Wakefield’s Common Application Form, while families outside the district apply through their home authority. For September 2027 entry, the normal primary application deadline is 15 January 2027.

Lower Foundation Stage attendance at the time of application is included under category (e) of the oversubscription criteria for 2027/28. However, conflicting wording says oversubscribed places follow only categories (a)–(d), leaving the application of category (e) unclear. Confirm with the school how nursery attendance is treated. Keep the two decisions separate: choosing the nursery and applying for Reception each require action.

Two three-hour sessions shape the nursery day: mornings run from 8.30am to 11.30am, and afternoons from 12.10pm to 3.10pm. Those collection times matter when fitting nursery around work or another child’s school day.

Applications for part-time nursery places go directly to the school. General enquiries can be made by calling 01924 767080, emailing office@sandalmagna.enhanceacad.org.uk or using the contact form. On Fridays, children should come dressed in warm PE clothes because their session is outdoors.