St Martin's Nursery, Fangfoss

Forest Fridays give this nursery a distinctive weekly rhythm: children learn in the school's wildlife area, with sessions continuing through changing weather. Outdoor exploration is part of the learning here.

For three and four year olds, St Martin's Church of England nursery sits within Class 1, a mixed early years class shared with Reception children. A class teacher and nursery nurse form the teaching team. This is an integrated start to school life, with nursery children already using the early years learning environment alongside the older children.

Play shapes the curriculum. Children use indoor and outdoor provision, while topics change each half term and take account of their interests. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides the framework: here, learning includes developing language, understanding feelings and exploring the world through play, stories and conversation.

Circle Time connects with a different story each week, supporting children's social and emotional development and their understanding of the world. Nursery topics include Light and Dark, Superheroes and All About Me. These give families concrete starting points for talking about learning at home.

The wildlife area adds another setting for discovery. During Forest Fridays, children observe wildlife, work with materials and use their imagination. The school intends these sessions to develop creativity, resilience and an understanding of risk. All-weather sessions also mean that the surroundings change from week to week, giving children fresh things to notice.

Two practical strengths emerged from Ofsted's July 2023 early years findings: cooperation and precise language. Adults helped children share turns and collaborate; questions about shapes drew out mathematical vocabulary. Children also stayed focused on their activities. For parents, these are concrete examples of play developing both social skills and language.

Learning Journey goes home on Fridays and returns on Mondays, giving parents a regular link with classroom learning. Reading books belong in the book bag each day; Fridays also bring a book change. These routines make home participation part of the week's pattern.

A SENCo forms part of the school team, alongside the Class 1 teacher and nursery nurse. Families who need additional support for a visit can contact the office beforehand; disabled parking inside the gates can be arranged with advance notice. Lunch bookings use ScoPay, so meals have an online booking route alongside other school arrangements.

In July 2023, the school-wide improvement action concerned clearer measures for checking whether leadership initiatives were working. This was a leadership issue across the school, rather than a nursery-specific improvement action.

Attending the nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate application to the local authority where they live, by the deadline for their child's admissions round. East Riding residents apply through East Riding of Yorkshire Council; families living elsewhere apply through their home authority.

Sharing Class 1 with Reception children gives nursery pupils familiarity with the early years classroom and its routines. Keep that practical continuity separate from admissions: being familiar with the class does not secure the next place.

Nursery enquiries and applications go directly to the school office at fangfossprimary@eastriding.gov.uk or 01759 368446. The office also arranges visits, giving families an opportunity to see the shared early years provision.

Red is the nursery uniform colour: a school-logo polo shirt goes with a red sweatshirt or cardigan. Children also need indoor black plimsolls. Bring forest kit on Fridays, and keep trainers at school each day. A coat, wellies for bad weather and a summer sunhat support the outdoor routine; name belongings so they can be returned to the right child.

The uniform also includes grey or black trousers or shorts, or a grey skirt or pinafore. A red gingham dress is optional in warm weather. Shoes or boots should be flat and black. Tuesday is PE day for the red tops, who come dressed in their PE kit.