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Welcome to Cherry Ducklings, the Nursery provision at Cherry Burton Primary School. Guided by our school ethos, “Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly,” we provide a warm, nurturing and inspiring early-years environment where children can develop confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning. Cherry Ducklings is an important part of our school community and provides an excellent start to your child’s educational journey.
At Cherry Burton Primary School, our ethos “Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly” shapes everything we do. In Cherry Ducklings, this means giving children the strong foundations they need to grow—emotionally, socially and academically—while encouraging them to explore, be brave and develop independence.
Cherry Ducklings follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and aims to support every child to become:
Confident, independent learners
Curious explorers and creative thinkers
Caring, respectful members of our community
Happy, resilient children who feel safe and valued
Our skilled Early Years team plans exciting, hands-on learning opportunities that support communication and language, early number understanding, physical development and personal, social and emotional growth.
The learning environment is designed to spark imagination and encourage discovery. Children have daily access to:
A well-equipped indoor classroom with role-play, construction, writing and creative spaces
A vibrant outdoor learning area for climbing, digging, sand play, and exploring nature
Calm areas for reading and reflection
Opportunities for messy play, sensory experiences and early mark-making
At our nursery, we provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment where children can learn through play, exploration and meaningful experiences. Our provision is carefully planned around topics and themes to fully immerse children in their learning and help them make connections in a fun and engaging way.
We use a topic-based approach to learning, which allows children to explore ideas in depth and at their own pace. Our activities, resources and environments are thoughtfully linked to each topic to create an immersive experience that sparks curiosity and imagination.
Through our topics, children take part in a wide range of activities such as:
Arts and crafts linked to current themes
Role play areas set up to reflect the topic
Storytelling, songs and discussions related to what we are learning
Early literacy and maths activities woven naturally into play
This approach helps children develop confidence, deepen understanding and remain fully engaged in their learning.
Our Forest School sessions are an important part of our provision. These outdoor experiences allow children to explore, investigate and learn in a natural environment while supporting physical development, wellbeing and independence.
During Forest School, children may:
Explore natural materials and seasonal changes
Build dens and create structures
Take part in nature-based activities connected to current topics
Develop teamwork, resilience and problem-solving skills
Each half term, children enjoy baking or cooking activities that are linked to our topics, seasonal changes and celebrations. These hands-on experiences help bring learning to life and support children in developing practical skills.
Baking activities help children to:
Learn about healthy eating
Develop fine motor skills through mixing and measuring
Practice early maths skills such as counting and weighing
Follow instructions and work together
All dietary requirements and allergies are carefully considered to ensure activities are safe and inclusive.
Our topics often include seasonal, cultural and community celebrations, giving children opportunities to learn about the world around them. These experiences help children build respect for others and create meaningful, memorable moments during their time at nursery.
Being outside is an important part of our provision, we know that lots of children thrive in the natural environment. Activities we do include:
Taking seasonal walks to investigate how our environment changes throughout the year
Attempting circuits and obstacle courses to work our gross motor skills
Gardening, planting flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables to learn more about where our food comes from and the life cycles of plants
Exploring habitats of animals using our school grounds, we love making hedgehog dens and bird nests!
Mark making using a variety of materials.
Investigating shadows with puppets and our bodies.
And so much more!
Cherry Ducklings offers flexible nursery provision for families in Cherry Burton and the surrounding area. Our current sessions are:
Morning Session: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Afternoon Session: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Lunch: 12:00 - 12:30pm
Children who attend our nursery will also have access to our Before and After School Club, Cherry Bees should they need it.
Please contact the Cherry Burton Primary School office for the most up-to-date information on places, availability and wrap-around care.
At Cherry Burton Primary School, we believe that strong relationships with parents and carers help children thrive. We work closely with families by:
Providing regular updates on your child’s learning and progress
Holding parent evenings and celebration events
Encouraging open, ongoing communication
At Cherry Burton Primary School, we understand that moving from Nursery to Reception is a big step in your child’s early learning journey. Guided by our ethos, “Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly,” we ensure this transition feels natural, familiar and exciting for every child.
To support this, Cherry Ducklings and our Reception class operate a flow-through approach. This means that:
Children have daily opportunities to access both the Nursery and Reception classrooms, becoming familiar with the environment, routines and staff long before they move up.
Our shared outdoor learning area encourages children to play, explore and learn alongside Reception pupils, helping them build confidence and make new friendships.
Staff across both settings work closely together, ensuring consistent expectations, seamless communication and a strong understanding of every child’s needs.
Children develop independence at a pace that suits them, supported by early experiences of Reception-style activities within a nurturing and familiar environment.
This approach helps children feel secure, confident and ready for the next stage of their learning, making the transition into Reception smooth and positive.
Children can join Cherry Ducklings the term from 3 years of age. Applications can be made directly through Cherry Burton Primary School. We warmly encourage families to arrange a visit so you can meet our staff, explore our setting and see our provision in action.
We would be delighted to welcome your child to Cherry Ducklings at Cherry Burton Primary School.
For more information, to arrange a visit, or to request an application form, please contact the school office.