The Kingsdown Nursery School, Lincoln

This is a smaller than average size school serving a mixed residential area to the south west of Lincoln. Many families also travel from outside the immediate area. Indicators suggest there is an area of social and economic disadvantage within the school's catchment. Children enter the nursery with a broad range of knowledge and skills though they are similar to those expected for children of this age. However, a significant number enter with particularly poor communication and language skills. The majority of children come from White British backgrounds and only a very small minority are of Eastern European origin and in the early stages of learning English. The number of children with a learning difficulty and/or a disability including those with a statement of educational need is similar to the national average. As a consequence of declining numbers the school takes an early intake for five terms instead of the usual three. Children leave the nursery to attend up to 20 other schools. The school has achieved the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Mark, is an Investor in People and has two Basic Skills Awards.