The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery at Breakspeare School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Communication, making choices and learning to engage with other people shape Breakspeare’s early years offer. The nursery provision belongs to a Hertfordshire maintained special school for children with severe or profound learning difficulties, including children with additional medical, sensory, physical or communication needs. Early years sits within Lower School, where the school aims to build confidence through relationships and an understanding of each child’s interests.
At the Ofsted inspection on 1 and 2 October 2024, early years had too few children for a separate grade. Families should therefore distinguish the nursery provision from judgements about the wider school.
Half-termly themes organise the learning, combining activities guided by adults with play that children initiate. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers seven areas of development here. In practical terms, Breakspeare places emphasis on paying attention, interacting, communicating and becoming more independent: the skills that help a child participate in learning and express preferences.
Individual interests help shape that work. Lower School staff build their understanding of what children enjoy, what they can do and what they need to develop. The school aims to use those relationships to encourage exploration and engagement. For a parent, the emphasis is on how their child joins in, makes a choice or attempts something new.
Across Breakspeare, curriculum planning involves families and other professionals. That provides a way to connect educational activities with a child’s individual needs. The wider school’s physical facilities include a swimming pool, sensory room and outdoor play areas; these are school facilities rather than a description of a nursery session timetable.
Settling is approached through relationships. Lower School aims to build trusting staff relationships so children feel settled and confident about exploring and learning. Its emphasis on understanding individual preferences makes the child’s interests part of that process.
The wider school team includes a full-time nurse, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Staff training covers epilepsy, medical needs, moving and handling, sensory needs and autism. These are relevant areas of expertise for families whose child needs education and care planned together, although the team described serves the school as a whole.
Home-school diaries and Parent Mail support communication, alongside meetings about targets, EHC plans and transition. Families receive a progress report twice yearly. Friends at Breakspeare (FAB) also runs Friday coffee mornings combining information and social contact, giving parents another opportunity to meet each other.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Nursery and Reception admission are separate: families must apply again through the normal route and meet the applicable deadline. Treat the next placement as a separate decision from choosing the nursery.
Breakspeare includes transition meetings among its arrangements for communicating with families. These provide a forum for discussing the next stage; they should be kept separate from any assumption about admission.
Visits can be arranged by appointment through the school office. For enquiries, telephone 01923 263645 or email admin@breakspeare.herts.sch.uk.
Site planning. A move to the Durrants site in Croxley Green is planned for 2026 / 2027, bringing together pupils from the school’s different sites. This is a planned relocation, so families should keep the location of their child’s placement in mind when organising travel.
Communication, attention, interaction, making choices and developing independence are central to the Lower School early years offer.
Themes change half-termly, with both adult-guided activities and play initiated by children across seven areas of learning and development.
No separate early years grade was given at the inspection on 1 and 2 October 2024 because too few children were enrolled to support one.
No. Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place, and families must make a separate application through the normal route by the applicable deadline.
Yes. Contact the school office to arrange an appointment on 01923 263645 or at admin@breakspeare.herts.sch.uk.
