Layfield Primary School Nursery

Early phonics gives Layfield’s nursery a clear learning focus: children connect initial sounds with written letters. Counting practice and yoga also featured across the school’s early years provision in the January 2023 inspection. The emphasis is on skills children can practise through activity, with adults helping them develop concentration, independence and the beginnings of reading and writing.

The nursery sits on the school site in Yarm and caters for three-year-olds. In Ofsted’s inspection on 25 and 26 January 2023, early years provision was graded Outstanding. That judgement covers the school’s early years provision, rather than a separately inspected nursery. Its strongest nursery-specific detail concerns the start of phonics; the wider early years findings also describe accessible equipment, mathematical practice and children learning to manage their behaviour.

Early learning brings together numbers, language, movement and everyday care skills. In January 2023, children practised building numbers through counting objects. Adults demonstrated ways to make five, then 10, and gave children repeated chances to try the ideas themselves. The practical benefit is clear: number work has something children can handle and count, rather than remaining an abstract explanation.

Phonics begins in Nursery. Children work on recognising initial sounds and forming the corresponding letters, linking what they hear with what they write. Across early years, adults gave substantial help with reading and writing practice. This makes early literacy an active part of learning, with support alongside the child’s efforts.

Yoga adds a different kind of challenge. The January 2023 early years findings describe children sustaining their attention while practising balance and deep breathing. Movement therefore involves concentration as well as physical control. Equipment was arranged so children could reach it readily, helping them use resources for both play and learning.

Relationships begin with staff getting to know children and their families. Home visits helped with the start of early years, and parents welcomed them in January 2023. That contact also helped staff recognise special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), connecting an understanding of the child with decisions about support.

Everyday care includes learning why hygiene matters. Children connected thorough handwashing with staying healthy, giving a familiar routine a purpose they could understand. Adults also helped children regulate their behaviour. In January 2023, early years behaviour was exceptional, with children learning to cope with situations including listening to live music as part of a large group.

Attending Layfield’s nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admission are separate processes: families must apply again through the normal Reception application route and meet its deadline.

Preparation for the next stage is a separate question. In January 2023, early years children developed knowledge for later learning, while practice in reading, writing, balance and concentration gave them specific skills to build on. These educational benefits should be considered separately from the allocation of a Reception place.

Layfield Primary School is on Everingham Road, Yarm, TS15 9TF. The school telephone number is 01642786153.

Separate Reception application. A nursery place does not secure admission to Reception. Families should treat that application as a separate step when planning their child’s education.