Nursery Provision 2-year-olds

We are thrilled to be launching a new, and bespoke, nursery provision for two-year-olds from September 2026. This provision will follow the Abbey ethos of nurturing children’s curiosity and interest in learning through a play-based curriculum. This addition to our early years will have a purpose-built, self-contained, space within our school which is designed with the needs of the youngest learners in mind. A calm and secure play space with zones for construction, messy play, role play, story time, music and quiet reflection will be supported by access to an outdoor learning space and designated eating and sleeping spaces. Children will be taught, and cared for by, qualified practitioners who are committed to providing the best start in life for the youngest members of our school community.

Being part of our school environment affords us direct access to a wealth of early years and educational expertise, couple this with the addition of a school based Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who can support us in accessing other professionals and we are best placed to support all children and ensure they have the best opportunity to reach their full potential. The nursery will be part of our holistic Early Years provision and will be overseen and maintained by our Early Years Lead. Our vision is that children will transition naturally from our two-year-old provision to our three-year-old provision, staff teams will work closely together to ensure these transitions are as smooth and seamless as possible.

In line with all early years provision at Abbey Primary, we will work within the guidelines of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. This document is used to inform and guide practice and ensures children are offered learning opportunities across all *seven areas of learning.

We offer both full and part-time places and our children can access wrap around care in the form of additional hours. We are open for 49 weeks of the year.

*Three prime areas are particularly important for learning and forming relationships. They build a foundation for children to thrive and provide the basis for learning in all areas.

These are the prime areas:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development

The four specific areas, which help strengthen and develop the three prime areas, and ignite children's curiosity and enthusiasm.

The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Click here for details of Admission to 2-year-old Nursery

Nursery Provision 3–4-year-old

At Abbey primary our Early Years forms an integral part of our school. Building secure foundations for learning is key to children’s development, and a school-based nursery offers the ideal place for this to be nurtured. Children learn and develop at a faster rate from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives, so their experiences in early years have a major impact on their future life chances (Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework, 2025). We are proud to be able to shape young minds and lay the foundations for future learning in the early years, and place great value on this privileged role. Our staff are qualified and experienced early years professionals who are passionate about early learning and quality provision. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework to guide and inform our practice.

In Nursery we offer our children the chance to learn through play in a safe and stimulating environment where all participants are valued and respected. Child initiated learning runs alongside adult directed activities, affording us the chance to ensure our children receive a broad and balanced nursery experience which meets their individual needs. We pride ourselves on our engaging learning environments which offer fun and practical learning opportunities across all *seven areas of learning. Our Nursery classroom is a bright and airy space which offers children a calm place in which to play and explore. We are particularly proud of our stunning outdoor provision which allows us to learn in a purpose-built space with the added advantage of having nature at our fingertips.

We offer both full and part-time places and our children can access our wrap around care in the form of Breakfast and After School Club.

A typical nursery day includes the following:

• Welcome and self-registration – sessions have a soft start so children can adjust to the day.
• Carpet time – whole class focused learning based around our focus book for the week.
• Foundations for Phonics – an introduction to early phonics which includes developing our listening skills, tuning into sounds, rhyme and alliteration and learning a nursery rhyme each week.
• Free choice learning – both inside and outside affording children the chance to practice skills, develop their interests and investigate new learning.
• Snack time – fruit, milk and water are available to the children.
• Story time – we value books and nurture a love of reading, sharing stories every day.
• Adult directed tasks – opportunities for children to be supported/engaged in teacher led learning based around themes and areas of development.

*Three prime areas are particularly important for learning and forming relationships. They build a foundation for children to thrive and provide the basis for learning in all areas.

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development

The four specific areas, which help strengthen and develop the three prime areas, and ignite children’s curiosity and enthusiasm.

The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Click here for details of Admission to 3-4-year-old Nursery