Nun Monkton Primary Foundation School Nursery

A shared classroom and regular Forest School give Nun Monkton’s nursery its character: younger children have activities of their own while spending time alongside older pupils. Children can join from their third birthday. Nursery shares its class area with Reception and Year 1, so its place within the primary school is literal, rather than simply an attachment in name.

Children also socialise with pupils beyond their class. The school aims to build curiosity, independence and confidence through these relationships and opportunities for children to lead their own learning. For families, the defining choice is this combination of nursery activities and contact with older children.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) takes practical form through play, conversation and early learning. Nursery activities introduce maths, reading and phonics gently, with learning tailored to the younger children. The school uses Little Wandle for phonics. Adults revisit useful vocabulary and plan opportunities to practise skills, helping children put their ideas into words rather than simply complete a task.

Outdoor learning has a named destination. Weekly Forest School sessions take children to woodland about a mile’s walk away, where a permanent wooden classroom provides shelter for learning. Across the school, Forest activities include shelter building, balancing, climbing and group games. The early years programme includes exploring and investigating nature, giving children opportunities to develop physical confidence alongside their classroom learning. Waterproof clothing is required; sessions continue unless the weather is dangerous.

In May 2026, Ofsted judged early years to meet the expected standard. Adults supported children’s emotional and social development, and routines were clear. There were also two linked priorities: make the quality of adult interactions more consistent and strengthen assessment expertise so that activities fit children’s starting points more closely. These matter because the adult’s response during play can determine how far a child’s idea develops.

Settling can happen gradually. A child may begin with mornings or a small number of days and increase attendance later; full-time attendance is also possible from the outset. Staff help early years children settle, and additional needs are recognised early. In May 2026, children with SEND participated fully, with adjustments planned to reduce barriers to learning.

Class teachers work with teaching assistants, and staff supervise breaks and lunch as well as learning time. Parents can pass brief messages to staff at the gate and arrange a discussion with their child’s teacher. For children with SEND, support plans are discussed with families, with specialist involvement such as speech and language therapy when needed.

Lunch is cooked at school, with packed lunches another option. The cook can accommodate allergies and special diets, making individual food needs part of meal planning. Nursery children receive fruit each day; families should send a water bottle, and may provide a healthy snack for morning break.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application through North Yorkshire’s Common Application Form and send a Supplementary Information Form to the school. This applies even when a child already attends nursery. Treat the application as a separate task and meet the normal Reception application deadline.

Sharing the class area with Reception gives nursery children familiarity with the learning space and older classmates before that change. That practical continuity is distinct from the decision about admission.

Morning-only attendance, whole days and patterns that build over time are possible. The school day runs from 9am to 3.30pm, with children expected from 8.45am. Agree the nursery attendance pattern when arranging a place.

The nursery offers 15 or 30 funded hours, with eligibility determining access to 30 hours. Additional sessions can be purchased; contact the school for current charges. To discuss attendance or arrange a visit, call 01423 330313 or email sbm@nunmonkton.n-yorks.sch.uk. At collection, staff release children individually through the front gate to their trusted adult.