Clifton With Rawcliffe Primary School Nursery

A muddy-buddy partnership gives outdoor learning a social purpose at Clifton With Rawcliffe: nursery children explore alongside a partner, combining practical activity with learning to work together. That is a distinctive thread in this school’s nursery provision in Rawcliffe, York, where children can start from age three.

At the inspection on 3 and 4 December 2024, Ofsted graded the school’s early years provision Outstanding. That judgement covers early years within the school, rather than a separate nursery inspection. Children showed persistence during activities and followed established routines, giving their learning a settled rhythm.

Play and conversation shape the day. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) approach combines activities chosen by children with teaching directed by adults. Direct teaching sessions sometimes lead into work with smaller groups, while the timetable adjusts as children’s needs change through the year. Children have room to pursue an interest as well as opportunities to learn together.

Speaking, listening and relationships receive deliberate attention. Oracy means learning to express ideas and listen to other people; here it sits alongside personal, emotional and social development. Development Matters guides the early years curriculum. The emphasis is on how children approach learning: exploring something unfamiliar, continuing when it becomes difficult and trying out their own solutions.

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds provides the phonics approach. In nursery, Phase 1 concentrates on listening and speech, including noticing sounds and beginning to blend or separate them orally. Picture books feature in storytelling, play and independent browsing. A class library sends two picture books home each week, giving families something concrete to share beyond the nursery session.

Number learning uses songs, games and objects children can handle. Practising counting an object just once connects hand movements with number words. Outdoors has equal standing with indoor learning, with forest school activities planned weekly. The school grounds include a Forest School shed with space for changing and shelter, plus a pond in the woodland learning area. These are school facilities; the nursery’s focused outdoor sessions give exploration a regular place in its learning.

Each child has a key person who connects their care and learning with their individual needs, supports families at home and can help them access specialist support. Before children start, staff talk with parents and previous settings and consider earlier learning records. This gives the team a starting picture of the child rather than treating their first session as a blank slate.

The focus child programme brings parents into observations of play and progress. Two nursery children are the focus each week, and families are invited to contribute photographs of recent activities through Tapestry. Class Dojo handles the main online communication between school and home.

For children needing additional help, support includes speech and language, social development and fine motor activities. Wellcom screens language, communication and interaction, with the Big Book of Ideas supplying activities for targeted support. The practical benefit is a link between identifying a need and planning what to do next.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet the applicable deadline. Familiarity with the school and an entitlement to a place are separate matters.

The nursery is based at the school on Eastholme Drive, Rawcliffe, York, YO30 5TA. For nursery enquiries, contact the school office on 01904 806530 or email admin@cwr.pmat.academy.