Millbrook Primary School Nursery Review

Tea sets, wheels and tyres give Millbrook’s nursery play a practical character: children explore everyday objects rather than relying solely on conventional toys. The nursery occupies a purpose-built building at Millbrook Primary School in Grove and caters for children aged 2 to 4. Three classrooms organise children mainly by age, giving each child a home base with their key person.

Caterpillar accommodates two-year-olds and children nearing three; Ladybird serves the older preschool group. Early years provision received a Good judgement at the Ofsted inspection of 28 and 29 November 2023. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery.

Explore, Experience, Create is the curriculum’s organising idea, with elements of the Curiosity Approach. Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), learning combines children’s own play choices with adult guidance. In parent terms, that means developing conversation, relationships and physical skills alongside early understanding of numbers, literacy, the world and creative expression.

Everyday materials make the approach tangible. Tea pots and boxes invite handling and experimentation; accessible resources let children choose what interests them. The nursery aims for restful spaces using soft furnishings and neutral colours, with imaginative and adventurous play extending outdoors. Caterpillar’s routine balances activity with rest, including sleep when needed. Possible activities include movement and music, messy play and simple puzzles. In Ladybird, storytelling and counting games sit alongside mark-making, art and imaginative play, with increasing responsibility for personal care.

In November 2023, communication and language received effective attention, and even the youngest children explored confidently and showed that they felt safe. Outdoor learning was a weaker point: meaningful activities outside needed development. Curriculum ambitions were also not fully achieved in early years, with further work required on teaching knowledge and implementation. Those findings make the substance of outdoor play a useful focus when visiting.

A key person is matched to each child after staff observe relationships during the opening weeks of their first term. This gives the match time to develop rather than fixing it before staff know the child. Families receive two parents’ evenings and an end-of-year report from that adult. A stay-and-play settling session is part of joining; the Famly login arrives with the invitation. Through Famly, parents can follow photographs, observations and care records, including meals, sleep and nappy changes, and contribute their own learning observations.

Food punctuates the day. Morning snacks can include cereal, fruit and toast; afternoon choices include toast, fruit and biscuits. Milk accompanies snack times, and children can reach their water bottles during the day. Lunch is either a charged hot school meal, booked through MCAS, or a healthy packed lunch brought from home.

For children with additional needs, professionals already supporting the family may work with the school on settling into nursery. The SENCO can arrange specialist referrals with parents. Nursery safeguarding has a designated lead based within the provision, providing a direct point of responsibility for concerns.

Attending Millbrook’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet its deadline; nursery enrolment does not replace that application.

Preparation for the next stage happens through everyday independence. Ladybird children practise making decisions, solving problems and taking greater responsibility for their own care. These are useful transition skills, separate from the allocation of school places.

Morning nursery runs from 8:30am to 11:30am, afternoon from 12:15pm to 3:15pm, and the full day from 9am to 3pm. Families can choose term-time attendance, add Mini Kids wraparound, or combine term-time provision with holiday club. Mini Kids starts at 7:30am and afternoon care finishes at 6pm. Nursery staff run it in the nursery building. Collection and drop-off for Mini Kids use the Caterpillar door, between the school reception and nursery entrance.

Holiday club caters for ages 3 to 6, so its age range differs from the nursery’s. It operates from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Extra nursery sessions, wraparound and holiday bookings can be requested through Famly, subject to availability.

Universal funding for three- and four-year-olds typically covers 15 hours weekly for 38 weeks. Eligible working families can access 30 funded hours; some two-year-olds qualify for 15 hours through additional-support criteria. Offers remain conditional until funding checks are complete. Funding can be stretched into holiday club, or holiday sessions paid for separately. A voluntary consumables contribution is invoiced monthly through Famly; families declining it must notify the nursery in writing. Contact nursery@mbk.cambrianlt.org or 01235 764822 for enquiries and current charges.