Defford and Besford CofE Primary School Nursery Review

Sound games, story sacks and children choosing books for themselves give this pre-school a clear character: language comes through play and shared stories. It is the school's own provision, based on the school site at Hill View in Defford, rather than a separate childcare setting.

At the April 2023 inspection, the pre-school admitted children from two years and nine months. Ofsted judged the school's early years provision Outstanding on 25 and 26 April 2023; that judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separately graded nursery.

Listening is a starting point here. Pre-school children explore rhythm and rhyme, experiment with words that begin with the same sound and play I spy to identify starting sounds. They also practise joining sounds together aloud. These are concrete steps towards reading, with the emphasis on hearing and speaking before tackling printed words.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the school's named phonics programme. For the youngest children, the daily experience includes discovering vocabulary and exploring stories. Children can pick a book themselves and share it with another child or an adult, giving them a choice in what they hear and discuss. Songs and story sacks help them explore the people and events in stories.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum includes communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development, alongside literacy, mathematics, expressive art and design, and understanding the world. In parent terms, learning reaches beyond early reading to movement, relationships, creativity and understanding their surroundings.

In April 2023, early years activities extended children's existing knowledge, and children confidently contributed their ideas. Both the classroom and outdoor learning spaces had plentiful resources that supported learning. That gives the language work a broader setting: children have space to learn indoors and outside.

Children joining pre-school settled promptly in April 2023. Warm relationships with staff supported their confidence, while contact with families continued across the year. For parents, the useful combination is help with the first adjustment and an ongoing relationship once their child is established.

The early years teaching team includes the school's special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO). The SENCO works with parents, children and teachers to support access to learning, providing a point of contact for discussing additional needs.

Lunch can be a hot meal supplied by The Deli@Pershore or a packed lunch from home. Pre-school hot lunches carry a charge; contact the school for current charges. Children eat in the school hall with lunchtime supervisors present, making lunch a shared social part of the day. Families should send a water bottle and may provide a healthy morning snack, preferably fruit.

Separate application. Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place at the school. Families must apply again through the normal Reception admissions process and meet its deadline. Treat choosing the pre-school and applying for Reception as two separate decisions.

Enquiries go to the school office at office@defford-cum-besford.worcs.sch.uk or by telephone on 01386 750321. The school is at Hill View, Defford, Worcestershire WR8 9BH.

A school visit can be arranged by calling or emailing. This gives families a direct way to see the setting before making their choice. For questions about additional needs, contact the SENCO through the school.