Warthill Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Nursery

Learning alongside older children shaped Warthill’s early years provision at the September 2022 inspection. In September 2022, children shared a mixed-age class, with opportunities to play and work alongside older pupils. Those relationships supported their social and emotional development, making the class structure part of the learning experience rather than simply a way of organising children.

The nursery belongs to Warthill Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Warthill, York. Ofsted judged the school’s early years provision Outstanding at its inspection on 28 and 29 September 2022. That judgement covers early years within the school; it is not a separate nursery rating.

Activities matched children’s developmental needs in September 2022, and children showed a high level of engagement. The important detail is the connection between what adults understood about each child and the activities they provided. Children had work and play suited to their needs, giving them a reason to take part rather than expecting everyone to approach learning in the same way.

Language was a clear focus. Adults demonstrated language skilfully to develop children’s communication, turning their interactions into opportunities to learn how to express themselves. For parents, this gives a concrete picture of learning through conversation and adult example, alongside the activities themselves.

The mixed-age learning space was organised effectively, and children made purposeful use of it. Playing and working with older pupils also supported personal development and relationships. These are the clearest features of the early years day: activities matched to development, adult support for communication, and learning alongside children of different ages.

In September 2022, early years staff understood child development exceptionally well and handled children’s differing needs effectively. That matters in a shared class: the youngest children need adults who recognise their stage of development and respond accordingly. The early years findings connected that staff knowledge with children’s engagement and the suitability of activities.

SEND support plans. A separate, school-wide concern in September 2022 was that some support targets had become unsuitable because plans were not updated regularly. Communication of those plans to parents and carers was also inconsistent. This was not identified specifically as a nursery finding, but it is relevant context for families considering additional support: targets need to reflect a child’s changing needs, with parents involved in reviewing them.

Attending this nursery does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions route and meet the applicable deadline. Choosing the nursery and applying for school entry are separate decisions.

The September 2022 findings showed early years children learning and playing with older pupils, with benefits for their social and emotional development. That shared experience should be understood as part of their education, rather than an admissions advantage.

The school’s address is Warthill, York, YO19 5XL. Parents can contact the school by telephone on 01904489296 for nursery enquiries. This provides a direct contact point for families considering the provision and making arrangements with the school.