A warm welcome to Southridge First School! We are delighted that you might be considering us as the best place for your child to start their educational journey. We hope that you will find all the relevant information you need on this page to help you with that important decision.

'We think that high quality early education makes the child a more effective learner – not just better at letters and numbers. High quality education turns the child onto learning.’ Kathy Sylva, Professor of Educational Psychology at Oxford University.

Our Nursery

At Southridge, our learners are given the very best opportunties from the earliest point in the learning journey. Our nursery is led by qualified teachers who have deep understanding and significant expertise in Early Years teaching and learning. They skilfully plan learning opportunities for both the prime areas of learning (Communication and language, Physical development and Personal, social and emotional development) as well as the specific areas of learning (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the world and Expressive arts and design). This ensures that our children become wonderfully prepared independent little learners ready for the challenge of their move into Keystage One.

Staff make excellent use of both our indoor and outdoor learning environments. Each week, the children love their opportunity to spend dedicated time in our on-site Forest Area as well as daily use of their beautifully equipped outdoor classrooms. Meanwhile, inside, the classrooms are set up to enable teacher-led activities as well as child-led learning. The constantly evolving and adapting indoor environment ensures children are always engaged and excited by their learning.

The experience children enjoy at Southridge nursery enables children to become curious, confident and articulate learners who are ready for a seamless transition into their Reception year. We believe that attendance at school nursery is the best way to prepare children for starting school.

Why choose a school nursery over a private provider?

1. Smoother transition into school

Children in a school nursery become familiar with:

The school building and routines
Teaching styles and expectations
Key staff and the wider school environment

This often makes the move into Reception feel calmer and more confident, with fewer adjustments needed.

2. Strong educational focus

School nurseries are usually closely aligned with:

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum
Whole-school teaching and assessment approaches

This can support early literacy, numeracy, and learning behaviours such as listening, turn-taking, and independence in a way that’s well matched to primary education.

3. Qualified teaching staff and consistency

Many school nurseries are led or supported by:

Qualified teachers
Experienced early years practitioners

Children may also benefit from continuity—sometimes staying with the same setting, peers, or staff as they move into Reception.

4. Inclusive support and early intervention

Being part of a school can mean:

Earlier identification of additional needs
Closer links to SEN support, speech and language services, or pastoral staff
Clear transition planning if extra support is needed

This can be especially valuable for children who may benefit from structured support early on.

5. Sense of community and belonging

School nurseries often feel like part of a wider community:

Shared events, assemblies, and celebrations
Strong home–school links with families
Opportunities for siblings to attend the same school

This can help families feel settled and connected.

6. Cost and funding considerations

In many cases, school nurseries:

Offer government-funded nursery places (e.g. 15 or 30 hours)
Have more transparent or lower costs than some private providers

This can make them a more affordable option for many families. See below for more information on our 30 hour offer.

7. Preparation for school routines

Children begin to get used to:

School-day structures
Lunchtimes, uniforms, and group routines
Expectations around behaviour and learning

This gentle preparation can boost confidence and independence.

But what about flexibility and younger children?

Here at Southridge we are proud to have our partner's Kids Planet on site to work with us to maximise our care offer.

We are proud to offer:

Breakfast Club Care from 7.45am every school day for our school aged children.
Specialist 18-24 month old daycare (7.45am-6pm) running all year round (except Christmas).
After-school Care until 6pm every school day.
Holiday Club Care (3 year olds and up) operating throughout all school holidays (except Christmas).

The 30 Hour Offer

At Southridge, our children can attend nursery for either a morning or an afternoon sessions, lasting 3 hours each or for full days lasting 6 hours, plus a 45 minute lunch break. A full week amounts to 33.75 hours and working parents can use their 30 hour childcare allowance towards this. We also offer wraparound care in the form of breakfast and after school care through our partners Kids Planet. Our offer means you can design the perfect child care arrangements for your family. For further information about Kids Planet, please follow this link Southridge | Kids Planet Nurseries.

Parents say...

"Staff are all really lovely and show and real commitment to and enjoyment of their job. They seem to really, genuinely care about the children and this is reflected in how much our child loves nursery."

" Challenge and support for children in equal measure - fabulous staff."

"Teachers are so professional, supportive and kind. My child is feeling so happy and confident at nursery."

Ofsted say...

"Children in the early years enjoy the vibrant learning environment. They are encouraged to be creative and independent. Adults in the early years know
the children well. They adapt the curriculum so that it engages and motivates children to learn."