Westerton Primary Academy Nursery

Water play has a learning purpose here: in October 2023, nursery children compared containers of different sizes to discover which could hold more. That small example captures the provision's emphasis on exploration, concentration and growing independence.

Westerton Primary Academy's nursery sits within its Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision, with 52 nursery pupils. The school is on Hesketh Lane in Tingley. Ofsted judged early years provision Good at the inspection on 24 and 25 October 2023; this is an early-years judgement within the school inspection.

Play combines with adult guidance. In October 2023, established early-years routines helped children learn independently, while activities inside and outdoors encouraged them to explore new skills. Children were spending longer concentrating on their activities. The water tray gave nursery children a practical way to investigate capacity, making an abstract mathematical idea something they could test themselves.

The EYFS is the framework for this early learning. At Westerton, its everyday expression includes movement, language and investigating the world. Adults support the youngest children's mathematical thinking through questions, conversation and directed teaching, using objects and pictures to help ideas make sense. Early-years science also draws on indoor and outdoor activities, with teachers adjusting learning to children's interests and needs.

Language has named routines. Bug Club phonics begins with Phase 1 in nursery: listening walks and practising how spoken words can be split into sounds and put together again. Nursery children have daily stories, and each class has a rhyme or poem to focus on each week. These give children repeated opportunities to listen and build familiarity with language.

Music follows Kapow from EYFS onwards. Physical learning develops coordination, balance and agility, while early-years religious education uses festivals, stories, creative activities and play to explore Christianity, Sikhism and Islam. Learning reaches beyond letters and numbers.

Partnership with families includes parental workshops during the year. The EYFS Phase Leader is a contact for early-years questions, giving parents a route into the team supporting their child's learning.

Across the school, SEND provision is managed by a SENCo with the NASENCo qualification, with provision reviewed throughout the year. The school aims to introduce support as early as needed and work with families and other agencies. For a nursery family, that makes discussing individual needs part of the wider school support structure.

Food brought into school must follow its nut-free rule. This matters when preparing snacks or packed food for a child with, or alongside children with, serious allergies.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route by the applicable deadline. Treat choosing nursery and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Preparation for the next stage includes practising independence at home, such as managing coats, washing hands and using cutlery. Families are encouraged to share developmental needs and helpful strategies with the new Reception teacher, so support can reflect the individual child.

Three attendance patterns organise the nursery week. The first-half option combines full days on Monday and Tuesday with Wednesday morning. The second-half option starts on Wednesday afternoon, followed by full days on Thursday and Friday. The 30-hour option covers full days from Monday to Friday for eligible families with a 30-hour code. The choice is between defined weekly patterns.

For nursery enquiries, contact the school office at office@westerton.leodis.org.uk or on 0113 2533504. The EYFS Phase Leader can help with specific early-years questions.