Landywood Primary School Nursery Review

Little Acorns has a building of its own, with enclosed outdoor space for children aged 2 and 3. That gives Landywood Primary School’s youngest children a distinct base within the wider school site. The provision includes Little Acorns and a nursery in a separate early years unit, so the physical organisation matters when considering a child’s day.

In the Ofsted report published in May 2026, early years met the Expected standard. This judgement covers the school’s early years provision, including its 2-year-olds. Calm settling and established routines were strengths; making better use of staff expertise during interactions with children remained an improvement priority.

Communication, movement and personal development shape the early years curriculum. In plain parent language, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) here gives attention to how children talk, develop physical skills and manage themselves alongside their first steps in learning. Staff direct children towards activities that develop these foundations each day. The emphasis is on building the basics.

Early reading has daily attention in nursery, with activities preparing children for the skills reading requires. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school’s named reading programme, while nursery activities concentrate on foundations. Staff observe children’s development regularly and use Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals to plan what comes next. This connects planning to what an individual child can already do.

Creative work includes experimenting with materials and using imagination through Expressive Arts and Design. Outdoors, Little Acorns has enclosed areas, and the nursery also has an enclosed play space. Forest School is available across the school, with woodland trails adding a different setting for learning about nature. These are concrete opportunities to combine learning with movement and exploration.

In May 2026, children across early years settled readily into the daily routine, including the youngest age group. Staff provided caring support and established expectations promptly. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities made positive progress from their starting points. Parents were encouraged to stay closely involved with the school.

For concerns about development or learning, families can speak to the class teacher or Inclusion Leader. Support follows a staged approach, with parents involved in decisions and outside specialists contributing when needed. That gives families a route into a conversation about their child’s needs.

Food arrangements include meetings with the catering team about allergies and dietary requirements. Personalised menus are developed around those needs, making that discussion relevant before a child starts having school meals.

A separate application. Attending Landywood’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must apply again through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat the choice of nursery and the later application for school as separate decisions.

The nursery timetable runs from 8:30am to 11:30am for the morning session and from 12:30pm to 3:30pm for the afternoon. A lunchtime session sits between them, from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Those distinct blocks are useful when considering how nursery fits around family routines.

For enquiries, contact the school office on 01922 270077 or email office@landywood.staffs.sch.uk. School visits can be arranged at a convenient time. Refer to the school for current charges.