The Haven Nursery School

A land-train outing and mark-making with rainwater give The Haven Nursery School’s March 2024 account its character: learning connected to the community and to ordinary outdoor experiences. This Eastbourne nursery has capacity for 37 children and shares its Atlantic Drive site with the primary school.

At its March 2024 inspection, Ofsted judged the nursery Good overall and found safeguarding effective. Children attending that month were aged one to four; that age range describes the inspection period.

In March 2024, the nursery followed the early years foundation stage, the framework covering children’s learning, development and care. Its practical expression included stories, sensory exploration, counting and outdoor play, connecting learning with everyday experiences.

Children experimented with rainwater to make marks outdoors, while story props helped explain unfamiliar vocabulary. Babies’ interest in garden bugs prompted an activity finding toy insects in jelly. Staff adjusted activities to children’s interests, giving those interests a route into new words and experiences.

Community learning extended beyond the garden. A land-train trip took children into town, and celebrations included Chinese New Year, introducing other cultures. Daily outdoor play offered opportunities for movement and exploring nature. These were experiences documented in March 2024, rather than a current activities timetable.

In March 2024, children formed close relationships with their key person. Signing and picture cards helped children express needs, including those learning English as an additional language; small-group conversations encouraged them to recognise emotions and consider how to help someone feeling sad.

At the March 2024 inspection, Ofsted found that assessment helped staff recognise emerging concerns and make prompt referrals for additional support, including for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Practical health learning included brushing teeth after lunch.

Communication with parents was the weakness in that month’s account. Some families experienced delays arranging staff meetings, and ideas for continuing learning at home were shared inconsistently. That matters because useful support depends on information travelling in both directions.

The address is The Haven C of E Methodist Primary School, Atlantic Drive, Eastbourne, BN23 5SW. Sharing a school site does not guarantee a Reception place.

In March 2024, opening hours were 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, across 48 weeks of the year. The nursery then received early-education funding for children aged two, three and four, alongside early years pupil premium funding. These arrangements belong to that dated account.

• Parent communication. Delayed meetings and inconsistent home-learning guidance were concerns in March 2024. During a visit, ask how meetings and two-way updates now work.
• Attendance fit. The March 2024 opening window ran from 8am to 5pm. What current booking patterns and funded-hours arrangements would fit your week?
• School-site expectations. The shared primary-school site does not confer a Reception place. Keep the school application separate from the nursery decision.

The March 2024 picture suits families who value outdoor exploration, community experiences and practical communication support. Rainwater mark-making, sensory play and the land-train outing give that picture substance. The Good judgement provides a dated quality assessment, while the communication concern deserves attention when weighing the nursery’s fit for your family.