North Walsall Primary Academy Nursery

Listening, rhyme and early conversation give this nursery its clearest character. North Walsall Primary Academy has 26 nursery places for children aged 3–4 at its Derby Street site in Walsall. The morning provision brings younger children into the primary academy, with 15 funded hours each week. For families, the practical shape is a short morning rather than a full childcare day.

Language takes centre stage. In June 2024, Ofsted found that the early years team gave close attention to communication and early language, with children making a very positive beginning to learning. That focus connects directly with the nursery’s daily phonics work: children learn together as a class and also take part in smaller groups.

Letters and Sounds provides the phonics approach. Nursery children work on Phase 1, developing their ability to listen and speak through activities involving rhyme, sounds made by instruments and sounds in the environment. They also practise blending sounds orally and separating spoken words into sounds. The emphasis is on hearing and using language, giving parents a concrete picture of the foundations being taught.

Cornerstones supports the academy’s wider curriculum, and the nursery topic is Jungle safari. Each classroom has a space for reading with different kinds of books. Together, the topic and reading area give learning a named theme and a physical place for engaging with texts.

Support for additional needs sits within the academy’s wider arrangements. Families discuss their child’s difficulties with staff, and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator advises teachers. Progress reviews happen at least once a term, with parents invited to discuss how things are going. This gives families a recurring opportunity to consider the next steps together.

Across the school, a full-time learning mentor works alongside a private speech and language therapist who attends for one full day a week. CADMUS Education supplies additional specialist services. These are school resources, rather than a promise that every nursery child receives individual therapy.

For children learning English as an additional language, the academy’s induction includes discussion of the home language and English fluency. A nurture room, another child as a buddy and a staff contact support the first day; a further family meeting follows at the end of the first week. Settling is therefore part of this induction, alongside assessment of vocabulary.

Food has one clear rule: the academy is nut free. Families need to keep that restriction in mind when preparing anything their child brings to school.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through Walsall Council, which allocates Reception places. The nursery application and the Reception application are distinct steps, so accepting a nursery place should never be treated as completing the later school application.

The nursery session runs from 8:30am to 11:30am, covering 15 funded hours per week. That finish time matters for anyone arranging work or further childcare around the morning.

Nursery applications go directly to the academy office. For enquiries or an adult-only tour, telephone 01922 720822 or email NWP-Postbox@attrust.org.uk. Children cannot accompany adults on these tours.

Nursery children use the Derby Street gate, where nursery staff meet them. Uniform is required for all children; suppliers include My Clothing, Clive Mark and Crested schoolwear. Staff meetings must be arranged through the office in advance, so plan a separate conversation if you need time to discuss your child’s needs.